[Changes in the orientation of the fracture plane of cell membranes during freeze-fracturing as an index of change in membrane structure]

Abstract

Using freeze-fracture method it is shown that the direction of the fracture plane is a sensitive indicator of the membrane structural organization. A decrease in the proportion of longitudinal fractures is noted upon the membrane rearrangement presumably associated with changes in the lipid phase, and, on the contrary, an increase in the proportion of these fractures is observed upon some actions resulting, presumably, in changes of the protein phase of membranes.