| Abstract: | The content and concentration of fatty acids lightly and tightly bound with proteins and the concentration of cholesterol were studied in differentiated and undifferentiated neuroblastoma C1300 N18 cells. Lightly bound lipids were extracted by the method of Blight and Dyer with subsequent additional rinsing by chloroform-methanol (1:1) and methanol extractions. The remaining protein-bound lipid was cleaved by mild alkaline hydrolysis in the methanol medium. Methyl esters of fatty acid were the fraction tightly bound with proteins. The main components in the fractions were fatty acids 16:0, 18:0, 18:1 omega 9, 20:4 omega 6. Cell differentiation caused changes essential in the content and concentration of fatty acids in the both fractions: the total quantity of saturated fatty acids was found to increase, the relative level of saturated fatty acids was higher in the tightly bound lipid fraction. During cell differentiation the level of cholesterol increased per 1 mg of protein in the lightly bound lipid fraction. In the tightly bound lipid fraction the cholesterol level per 1 mg of protein was unchanged. |
