Liberation of cholesterol from cells by proteolytic enzymes.

EXPOSURE of Landschutz ascites tumour cells to the proteolytic enzymes trypsin or brinase was found to cause release of small but statistically significant amounts of cholesterol into the medium. Since treatment with these enzymes also increases the agglutinability of the cells towards specific antiserum, it is suggested that cholesterol loss may be among the membrane changes involved in this enhanced aggultinability