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Differences between the Structural Dynamics of Plasma Membranes of Normal Hamster Lymphocytes and Lymphoid Cells Neoplastically Transformed by Simian Virus 40 as Revealed by Laser Raman Spectroscopy¹

Tufts-New England Medical Center, Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Radiobiology Division, Boston, Massachusetts 02111

The Raman spectra of highly purified plasma membranes from SV40-transformed GD248 lymphocytes have been compared with the spectra of the membranes of normal cells over the spectral region 100 cm^-1 to 3010 cm^-1. Striking differences between the two membrane categories were observed in the thermal response of the CH-stretching and acoustical regions. Analysis of CH-stretching shows that the membranes of normal cells exhibit a thermal transition centered at 7° and 5° wide. The membranes of GD248 cells, in contrast, show a lipid transition centered at -5° and 12–18° wide. Analysis of the acoustical region yields equivalent results. The membrane proteins of normal membranes undergo a large thermotropic transition, starting at 39° (sample temperatures), whereas this transition begins at 23° with GD248 plasma membranes. The results suggest the possibility that SV40-specific membrane proteins may modify the collective thermotropic behavior of both normal membrane proteins and membrane lipids.

¹ Supported by Contract CB44000 from the Division of Cancer Biology and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, USPHS.

Received 2/14/77. Accepted 6/27/77.