Cell membrane fluidity at different temperatures in relation to electroporation effectiveness of cell line V79

Abstract

When cell is exposed to short electric pulses with high amplitudes its membrane is transiently permeabilised. Characteristics of the cell play important role in this process. In the present study the effect of cell membrane fluidity on electroporation was investigated. To obtain significant differences in cell membrane fluidity cell suspension was exposed to different temperatures for five minutes before and during the pulse application. To exclude the effect of the temperature on cell membrane resealing only a small droplet of cell suspension was used for cell membrane permeabilization assay as it reached room temperature in few seconds after it was removed from electroporated sample. It was found that the decrease in cell membrane fluidity caused by exposure of cells to low temperature during electric pulse application significantly reduces electroporation effectiveness of the cell line V79.