Polycation-Cell Surface Interactions and Plasma Membrane Compartments in Mammals. Interference of Oligocation with Polycationic Condensation

Abstract

Abstract At lower concentrations, polyarginine, polylysine, protamine, histones H 1, H2A, H2B and H3 cause lysis of human erythrocytes, whereas at higher concentrations inner histones are not hemolytic but induce only surface condensation and alterations in the cell-shape. Antibody coated erythrocytes treated with polyarginine result in ghost-like spheres having globular bodies 1 μm in diameter on the surface. Human fibroblasts and lymphocytes, and Ehrlich ascites cells treated with polyarginine also form surface globular bodies similar in size. Nucleate cell-poly-arginine mixtures with lower polycation doses result in cytolysis, while higher polycation doses produce pyknosis of the cell surface accompanied by reorganization of a membrane-like structure. Changes in spectrofluorometric values result from 1,6 -diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatrien binding to cell lipids, match the plasma membrane alterations. Reciprocal shake incubation am plifies and/or conditions these polycation-induced alterations. The homogeneity of pyknotic surface bodies and the apparent polycationic membrane reorganization requiring oscillatory friction forces suggest the preexistence of a multizonal glycocalyx distribution corresponding to plasma membrane compartments. The possible role of this compartmentalization in receptor and membrane recycling, as well as the involvement of reversible catalytic-like polycation condensation in macromolecular changes are discussed.