Cell-Surface Interactions: Differential Inhibition by Proflavine of Embryonic Cell Aggregation and Production of Specific Cell-Aggregating Factor

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1973-11, Vol.70 (11), p.3111-3114
• Main Authors: Hausman, R. E., Moscona, A. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acridines - pharmacology; Aggregation; Amino Acids - metabolism; Animals; Biological Sciences: Cell Biology; Carbon Radioisotopes; Cell aggregates; Cell Aggregation - drug effects; Cell culture techniques; Cell membranes; Cell Separation; Cells; Cells, Cultured; Chick Embryo; Concanavalin A - pharmacology; Cultured cells; Diamines - pharmacology; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Embryonic cells; Glucosamine - metabolism; Lectins - pharmacology; Molecular Weight; Neurons; Protein synthesis; Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; Retina; Retina - cytology; Tritium; Uridine - metabolism
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.70.11.3111

Cell recognition and morphogenetic aggregation of embryonic cells into tissues are mediated by specific macromolecules in the cell surface (cell-aggregating factors). A factor specific for embryonic neural retina cells was demonstrated; its synthesis is required for histotypic reaggregation of retina cell suspensions. We show that proflavine (3,6-diaminoacridine) preferentially and reversibly suppresses production of the cell-aggregating factor and thereby inhibits normal cell reaggregation. If such proflavine-treated retina cells are exogenously supplied with the retina-specific factor, they reaggregate. The selectivity of these effects supports the postulated significance of specific cell-surface components in cell association into tissues; the results indicate that proflavine may be a useful molecular probe for studying formation of specific cell-surface components and their role in various cell interactions.