Levels and distributions of phospholipids and cholesterol in the plasma membrane of neuroblastoma cells.

Murine neuroblastoma cells (clone N-2A) grown in suspension (spinner cells) or attached on a plastic surface (monolayer cells) were used in studies of the phospholipid and cholesterol composition of whole cells, primary plasma membranes, plasma membranes internalized during phagocytosis of polystyrene latex beads, mitochondria and microsomes. Monolayer cells contained higher concentrations of total phospholipid, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine, and lower concentration of phosphatidylethanolamine than spinner cells. The cholesterol levels and the relative proportions of the various phospholipids were similar in both cell types except phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin whose proportions were lower in monolayer cells. The primary plasma membranes of the two cell types differed significantly in the relative proportions of all phospholipids, except sphingomyelin, and the phospholipid to protein and the cholesterol to protein ratios were all higher in the membranes of spinner cells. In contrast to these results, all the phospholipid to protein and the cholesterol to protein ratios of the internalized plasma membranes were higher in monolayer than in spinner cells, and the proportions of all phospholipids, except phosphatidylethanolamine, were similar in both cell types. The membrane distributions of individual phospholipids and cholesterol were inferred from comparison of the phospholipid and cholesterol compositions of primary plasma membranes and plasma membranes internalized during phagocytosis of polystyrene beads. The results are consistent with a non-random distribution of most phospholipids in both spinner and monolayer cells, but the patterns of these distributions were different in the two cell types. With regard to cholesterol the results are compatible with a random or a heterogeneous distribution. All the phospholipid to protein ratios of the mitochondrial fraction of both cell types were lower than those of the plasma membranes. However, these ratios of the microsomal fraction were higher than those of the plasma membranes of monolayer cells, whereas they were comparable, with a few exceptions, to those of spinner cell membranes. The cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratios of plasma membranes were 6.4 and 4.3 fold greater than those of the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions, respectively.

The undifferentiated and extended forms of C1300 murine neuroblastoma. An ultrastructural study and detection of concanavalin A binding sites on the plasma membrane.

Mouse neuroblastoma cells (clone neuro-2A) in the undifferentiated and "differentiated" form were compared by light and electron microscopy. "Cytodifferentiation" was induced in monolayer cultures by the addition of dibutyryl-cyclic AMP. The pattern of concanavalin A binding sites was studied after coupling with horseradish peroxidase. The following major differences were observed. The differentiated cells are characterized by numerous and long neurites, aggregation of ribosomes into polysomes, an extensive network of neurofilaments and microtubules, many dense-core neurosecretory-like vesicles, a discontinuous pattern of concanavalin A binding sites on the plasma membrane, and an increase of the specific activities of acetylcholinesterase, choline acetylase and tyrosine hydroxylase. In contrast, the undifferentiated cells grown in suspension culture lack neurites, contain dispersed ribosomes, infrequent neurofilaments and microtubules and dense-core neurosecretory-like vesicles, and exhibit a continuous pattern of concanavalin A binding sites. In addition, the specific activities of the above mentioned enzymes are significantly lower.

Isolation and properties of the plasma membrane of KB cells.

Plasma membranes from KB cells were isolated by the method of latex bead ingestion and were compared with those obtained by the ZnCl(2) method. Optimal conditions for bead uptake and the isolation procedure employing discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation are described. All steps of preparative procedure were monitored by electron microscopy and specific enzyme activities. The plasma membrane fraction obtained by both methods is characterized by the presence of the Na(+) + K(+)-activated ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase, and contains NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome b(5). The latter two enzymes are also present in lower concentrations in the microsomal fraction. Unlike microsomes which are devoid of the Na(+) + K(+)-activated ATPase and which contain only traces of 5'-nucleotidase activity, the plasma membrane fraction contains only trace amounts of the rotenone-insensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase but no cytochrome P-450, both of which are mainly microsomal components. Morphologically the plasma membrane fraction isolated by the latex bead method is composed of vesicles of 0.1-0.3 microm in diameter. On the basis of the biochemical and morphological criteria presented, it is concluded that the plasma membrane fraction isolated by the above methods are of high degree of purity.