Alteration of lymphocyte surface properties by insertion of foreign functional components of plasma membrane.

We report the successful coreconstitution of solubilized lymphocyte plasma membranes and Sendai virus envelopes into membrane vesicles that possess the ability to fuse efficiently with mouse splenocytes of thymocytes to give fully viable cells with modified surface properties. Integration of donor membrane components into the acceptor cells was demonstrated by chemical, morphological, and immunological methods. Over 40% of the label from vesicles coreconstituted with radiolabeled (with 125I or 3H) lymphocyte membranes was incorporated into the fused cells.