Phase transition of plasma membranes of rat hepatocyte and hepatoma cells by electron diffraction.

The transition temperatures (Tc) of the plasma membranes of Reuber H-35 hepatoma and normal ACl rat hepatocytes were measured by electron diffraction under physiological conditions. Diffraction rings below Tc indicate the existence of solid lipid domains. The Tc of both membranes increase to a plateau value of 17.5 degrees during the storage period of 4 days at 4 degrees, the rate of increase being slower for normal liver membranes. The extrapolations to zero storage suggest an innate difference of Tc for these two membranes. Storage in oxygen-reduced media slows down the initial increase in Tc in normal liver membranes, while the depletion of divalent cations accelerates the increase. Differences in lipid composition are partly responsible for this behavior.