Lymphocytes on sounding rockets

In two experiments performed on sounding rockets the early steps of the binding of Concanavalin A (Con A) to human lymphocytes under microgravity conditions were studied. No significant difference in the binding of Con A to lymphocytes and subsequent patching and capping between the flight samples and 1 g ground control were observed. In a further experiment the effect of gravity on the cytoskeletal structure of lymphocytes was investigated. Preliminary results indicate that the structure of vimentin may be influenced be altered gravity conditions. (Author)