Ligand-induced redistribution of lymphocyte membrane ganglioside GM1

Abstract

Dynamic aspects of the binding of cholera toxin to lymphocyte membranes were studied. The receptor for this ligand, the GMI ganglioside, can be laterally redistributed into aggregates and caps. Exogenous purified GMI inserted into GMI-deficient human leukemic cells can undergo a similar pattern of ligand-induced mobilization. These observations may have important implications for both the general behavior of cell surface glycolipids and the mode of action of cholera toxin on adenylate cyclase.