RECOGNITION AND ADHESION OF EMBRYONIC CELLS

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that deviations in cell recognition and adhesion may be involved in abnormal development, chick embryonic cells were used to develop a quantitative assay for adhesive recognition and to investigate its molecular basis. The assay avoids dissociated cells containing altered surfaces, and is based upon the differential ability of preformed cell aggregates to bind to cultured cell layers. The proportion of aggregates bound was independent of the number added, was second-order with respect to time of incubation and this second order rate varied with the cell type. Adhesion between like types was greater than between unlike types, indicating that, the assay measures cell recognition. Modification of binding by varying incubation temperature, treatment with metabolic inhibitors and with varying concentrations of protein cross-linkers showed that adhesive recognition involves mobile elements embedded within the plasma membrane and is not dependent upon metabolic activity; that the elements involved in recognition differ from those involved in adhesion, and that the effect of these modifiers varied with the cell type. These data suggest that intercellular adhesive recognition is due to complementary surface components which differ in concentration on various cell types. Mouse fibroblasts showed similar adhesive recognition properties, possibly allowing analysis of these properties in fibroblasts from individuals with birth defects.

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