From owner-drosophila@net.bio.net Wed Aug 14 23:00:00 1996 Path: biosci!UCI.EDU!dhodges From: dhodges@UCI.EDU Newsgroups: bionet.drosophila Subject: Drosophila neuron membranes Date: 14 Aug 1996 17:34:24 -0700 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 18 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Does anyone have references or first hand information regarding the lipid content of Drosophila cells, in particular neurons? I have attempted to permeabilize cultured embryonic neurons using a variety of lipids and streptolysin O, which is known to act via cholesterol in the membrane. I have seen no evidence of uptake of a fluorescent reporter using either method at a variety of concentrations and under many different conditions. I am beginning to believe that fly membranes are drastically different from mammalian cell membranes. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dianne Hodges UC Irvine Dept. of Anatomy & Neurobiology Irvine, CA 92697 (714) 824-8141 .