Low temperature-induced displacement of cholesterol and intramembrane particles in nuclear membranes of mouse leukemia cells

Chilling of GRSL mouse leukemia cells to 0 °C induces a rearrangement of intramembrane particles and filipin-cholesterol complexes in the membranes of the outer nuclear envelope and of the endoplasmic reticulum, but not in the plasma membrane. Both rearrangements are reversible, and are inhibited by prior fixation with glutaraldehyde. After chilling, filipin-cholesterol complexes are concentrated as rings around areas that are concomittantly cleared of intramembrane particles. Aldehyde fixation inhibits displacement of cholesterol in those areas that contain intramembrane particles, but not in the regions that are devoid of intramembrane particles.