Transverse movement of spin-labeled phospholipids in the plasma membrane of a hepatocytic cell line (HepG2): implications for biliary lipid secretion.

The redistribution of spin-labeled phospholipid analogs across the plasma membrane of HepG2 cells, either in suspension or grown as monolayers, was investigated. After incorporation into the outer membrane leaflet spin-labeled aminophospholipids phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) moved rapidly to the inner monolayer, whereas the analog of phosphatidylcholine (PC) disappeared more slowly from the outer leaflet. The fast, inward movement of the aminophospholipids was abolished after adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-depletion of cells, suggesting the presence of an aminophospholipid translocase in the plasma membrane of these cells. Compared with human red blood cells, the activity of the aminophospholipid translocase is two orders of magnitude higher in HepG2 cells. From these data, a transverse phospholipid asymmetry can be inferred with the aminophospholipids mainly concentrated on the inner monolayer and the choline-containing phospholipids on the outer leaflet. The relevance of the enrichment of PC in the outer membrane leaflet for the formation and composition of the bile is discussed.