Activation of lymphocytes by concanavalin A requires calcium ions.
Mouse spleen cells were exposed to a short pulse of the mitogenic lectin concanavalin A (con A). After removal of con A mitogenesis was measured by the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into DNA. It was found: (a) the number of cells responding to con A was proportional to the time of exposure to con A; (b) exposure of cells to con A in the absence of extracellular calcium failed to initiate mitogenesis; (c) for a mitogenic effect an extracellular calcium concentration greater than 10(-5)M was required during the time that the cells were exposed to con A.
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000276:immunology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen
D003208:Concanavalin A; D004247:DNA; D002118:Calcium