| Abstract: | The phospholipid and ether linked phospholipid content of leukaemic lymphocytes alters when the cells become resistant to low levels of the anti-cancer drug, vinblastine. Sphingomyelin and cardiolipin increase, and phosphatidyl ethanolamine and serine decrease in resistant cells. In addition, increases in 1-alkyl-2-acyl phosphatidyl choline and 1-alkenyl-2-acyl-phosphatidyl ethanolamine are concomitant with decreased 1,2-diacyl phosphatidyl choline and ethanolamine. Changes to the ultrastructure of the inner half of the plasma membrane bilayer, as a consequence of drug resistance, are illustrated by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. |
