Journal of Cell Science, Vol 13, 415-420, Copyright © 1973 by Company of Biologists

Submitted on January 15, 1973

Plasma Membrane Fluidity and Surface Motility of Mouse C-1300 Neuroblastoma Cells

¹ Department of Human Anatomy, Torino University Medical School, 10126 Torino, Italy

Under suitable conditions, topographical redistribution of plasma membrane molecules with oligosaccharide residues specifically bound by Concanavalin-A can be induced on neuroblastoma C-1300 cells. This shows that transformed nerve cell membrane is fluid at 37 °C and provides further support for the suggestion that such fluidity may be a common property of all animal cells. As previously reported for mesenchymal cells (lymphocytes and fibroblasts), clustering of Concanavalin-A binding sites on the cell surface is dependent on temperature and on reagent concentration. The formation of larger aggregates, known as patches or polar caps, requires metabolic energy provided by the cell. In fibroblasts caps are formed in as little as 15-30 min. C-1300 neuroblastoma cells, however, need several hours of incubation before patches or, more rarely, single caps appear. The mechanism of formation of patches and caps is discussed with reference to cell membrane fluidity and the possibility that there exists a membrane motility characteristic of each cell type.

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