Biomaterial Database

Membrane alterations and other morphological features associated with polyethylene glycol-induced cell fusion. 1979

J M Robinson, and D S Roos, and R L Davidson, and M J Karnovsky

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) induces rapid fusion of LM cells. Membrane fusion, as detected by formation of pentalaminar membrane arrays, occurs as early as 1 min after PEG treatment. The entire cell surface arrears to be capable of fusion since fusion occurs in regions where pseudopodia make contact with each other or with a neighbouring cell body and also in areas where cells are in contact along their entire periphery. Cytoskeletal components showed no apparent deleterious effect from PEG treatment or subsequent cell fusion as determined by thin-section EM. Freeze-fracture of monolayer cultures reveals a thermotropic rearrangement of intramembranous particles following PEG treatment.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D011092	Polyethylene Glycols	Polymers of ETHYLENE OXIDE and water, and their ethers. They vary in consistency from liquid to solid depending on the molecular weight indicated by a number following the name. They are used as SURFACTANTS, dispersing agents, solvents, ointment and suppository bases, vehicles, and tablet excipients. Some specific groups are NONOXYNOLS, OCTOXYNOLS, and POLOXAMERS.	Macrogols,Polyoxyethylenes,Carbowax,Macrogol,Polyethylene Glycol,Polyethylene Oxide,Polyethyleneoxide,Polyglycol,Glycol, Polyethylene,Glycols, Polyethylene,Oxide, Polyethylene,Oxides, Polyethylene,Polyethylene Oxides,Polyethyleneoxides,Polyglycols,Polyoxyethylene
D002459	Cell Fusion	Fusion of somatic cells in vitro or in vivo, which results in somatic cell hybridization.	Cell Fusions,Fusion, Cell,Fusions, Cell
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D003080	Cold Temperature	An absence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably below an accustomed norm.	Cold,Cold Temperatures,Temperature, Cold,Temperatures, Cold
D005614	Freeze Fracturing	Preparation for electron microscopy of minute replicas of exposed surfaces of the cell which have been ruptured in the frozen state. The specimen is frozen, then cleaved under high vacuum at the same temperature. The exposed surface is shadowed with carbon and platinum and coated with carbon to obtain a carbon replica.	Fracturing, Freeze,Fracturings, Freeze,Freeze Fracturings
D006358	Hot Temperature	Presence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably higher than an accustomed norm.	Heat,Hot Temperatures,Temperature, Hot,Temperatures, Hot
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus