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Title: Endovesiculation of human erythrocytes exposed to sphingomyelinase C: a possible explanation for the enzyme-resistant pool of sphingomyelin. Author: Allan D, Walklin CM. Journal: Biochim Biophys Acta; 1988 Mar 03; 938(3):403-10. PubMed ID: 2831979. Abstract: When human erythrocytes are treated with Staphylococcus aureus sphingomyelinase C at 37 degrees C they become susceptible to cold lysis and appear to endovesiculate. Endovesiculation has been confirmed by showing that in parallel with sphingomyelin breakdown, the cells accumulate [3H]inulin or [14C]sucrose (without losing intracellular K+) and also experience a loss of cell-surface acetylcholinesterase activity into a latent intracellular pool which can be revealed by treatment with detergent. On the basis of these observations it can be calculated that endovesicles account for about 2-4% of cell volume and about 25% of total cell surface. Pretreatment of cells with bee venom phospholipase A2 completely blocked sphingomyelinase-induced endovesiculation but this effect was related to a concomitant decrease in sphingomyelin breakdown which was reduced by about 90%. These results indicate that the pool of sphingomyelin which is not susceptible to attack by sphingomyelinase C (about 15% of total sphingomyelin) may be resistant because of membrane internalisation and not because it originally resides in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]