Membrane skeleton restraint of surface shape change during fusion of erythrocyte membranes: evidence from use of osmotic and dielectrophoretic microforces as probes

Biophysical Journal
A E Sowers

Abstract

The role of the spectrin-based membrane skeleton in cell fusion was studied by following the condition-dependent diameter versus time expansion signature of the fusion zone in electrofused pairs of erythrocyte ghost membranes. Previous work showed that the presence of the dielectrophoresis-inducing alternating electric field, which is used to bring membranes into contact through pearl chain formation, had a detectable promoting effect on fusion zone expansion. Two new dielectrophoresis protocols were used in the present work to utilize this externally generated and controllable microforce field to probe the forces intrinsic to the system that drives the expansion of the fusion zone. First, fusion zones expanded to a greater diameter in a strong AC field compared to a weak AC field, and they expanded to a greater diameter if erythrocyte ghosts received a prior heat treatment (42 degrees C, 20 min). Furthermore, flat diaphragm fusion zones broke down into open lumen fusion zones sooner (i.e., had shorter lifetimes) when they were expanding more quickly. Second, changing the AC field strength at specific times during the fusion zone expansion led to an immediate visco-elastic response. However, shifting the AC field strength to ze...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 18, 2008·Journal of Biological Engineering·Liju YangRashid Bashir
Jan 5, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·A StrömbergR N Zare
Jul 11, 2014·Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery·Maša Kandušer, Marko Ušaj
Nov 5, 1999·Biophysical Journal·M Baumann
Mar 11, 2003·Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment·Roberto GambariRoberto Guerrieri

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