Erythrocytes membrane fluidity changes induced by adenylyl cyclase cascade activation: study using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching

Abstract

In this study, fuorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments were performed on RBC labeled by lipophilic fuorescent dye CM-DiI to evaluate the role of adenylyl cyclase cascade activation in changes of lateral difusion of erythrocytes membrane lipids. Stimulation of adrenergic receptors with epinephrine (adrenaline) or metaproterenol led to the signifcant acceleration of the FRAP recovery, thus indicating an elevated membrane fuidity. The efect of the stimulation of protein kinase A with membrane-permeable analog of cAMP followed the same trend but was less signifcant. The observed efects are assumed to be driven by increased mobility of phospholipids resulting from the weakened interaction between the intermembrane proteins and RBC cytoskeleton due to activation of adenylyl cyclase signaling cascade.