Transfer of glycolipid between membranes of tissue culture cells, using dansylcerebroside as a model.

Donor cells, which had incorporated dansylcerebroside in their membranes, could further transfer this glycolipid to monolayers of acceptor cells. The case of transfer varied among acceptor cells, BHK cells being the best and MDBK cells the poorest acceptors of the cells tested. The process of transfer seemed to be mediated by lipids rather than by proteins of the membranes. The mode of attachment between donors and acceptors, such as classified as loose contact, tight adhesion or binding by lectin, did not significantly influence the extent of glycolipid transfer. However, modification of plasma membranes by infection of acceptor cells with myxoviruses resulted in enhancement of glycolipid transfer in some cases. Various factors have been evaluated with respect to dynamics of cellular membranes.