Fibronectin expression is determined by the genotype of the transformed parental cells in heterokaryons between normal and transformed fibroblasts.
The expression of fibronectin, a cell surface-associated transformation-sensitive glycoprotein, was studied in hetero- and homokaryons of normal and SV40-transformed human fibroblasts. In immunofluorescence, fibroblast homokaryons had an intense surface-associated and intracelluar fibronectin fluorescence similar to that of normal fibroblasts. Transformed cells and their homokaryons had a minimal surface-associated and a weak intracellular fibronectin fluorescence. In heterokaryons formed between transformed and normal fibroblasts, the expression of fibronectin fell within 24 h to the level of the transformed cell homokaryons. The change was detectable already at 3 h after fusion and was gene-dose dependent. These results show that the transformed genotype determines fibronectin expression in the heterokaryons.
D002459:Cell Fusion; D002460:Cell Line; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000032:analysis; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D006023:Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins