Abstract
PHOSPHOLIPIDS are a major component of biomembranes and provide the fluid matrix for protein movement and organisation. Membrane fluidity has been closely related to the biological and biochemical processes such as transport of chemicals, cell fusion, and protein rotation and diffusion1,2. Genetic, nutritional and temperature manipulation have been used to alter the fluidity of the cell membrane3,4, but physiological and biochemical events that regulate membrane fluidity are still unknown. We report here that the enzymatic methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine in erythrocyte membranes induces a marked increase of the bulk membrane fluidity.
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HIRATA, F., AXELROD, J. Enzymatic methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine increases erythrocyte membrane fluidity. Nature 275, 219–220 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/275219a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/275219a0
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