ISSN:
1432-1424
Keywords:
threshold effect
;
aggregation
;
liposomes
;
ricin agglutinin
;
liposome diameter
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Summary It had previously been found that small unilamellar liposomes of ca. 0.03 μm diameter which bear synthetic cholesterol-containing glycolipids may be aggregated by an appropriate lectin [8]. Where studied, threshold effects have been observed in that the amount of glycolipid incorporated in the liposomes must exceed a certain minimum concentration in order for aggregation to occur [3, 8, 9, 13, 14]. Threshold effects of this type may be important in mediating cell-cell and virus-cell interactions. However, before studies with small unilamellar liposomes are useful as a model for these recognition and binding phenomena, it must be shown that the observed threshold effects are not associated with the very small radius of curvature of these liposomes. This article reports that larger liposomes of average diameter 0.26 and 0.45 μm which contain the synthetic glycolipidl also show threshold effects when aggregated with the galactose binding lectin ricin agglutinin. Under conditions where more than 1% (mole) glycolipid is required to support the aggregation of the smallest liposomes, those of intermediate size require only 0.18% (mole) while the largest liposomes examined require between 0.095 and 0.15% (mole) depending on the method of preparation.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01868656
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