Articlede Laat SW, van der Saag PT, Nelemans SA, Shinitzky M.
Biochim Biophys Acta. 1978 May 04;509(1):188-93.
Microviscosity (eta) of the plasma-membrane lipid matrix was measured in exponentially growing and differentiating C1300 mouse neuroblastoma cells, attached to a glass substratum, by fluorescence polarisation of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. Upon differentiation eta decreases progressively, reaching values below those observed in the growth phase. Treatment of the cells with dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles reversibly inhibits morphological differentiation. The results show that a high membrane fluidity is a prerequisite for differentiation.