title: Induction of NILE/L1 glycoprotein during neuronal differentiation of the embryonal carcinoma cell line EC1003.
abstract: A new clone of the mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line 1003 (EC 1003.16) can be maintained in an undifferentiated state in serum-containing medium. Shifting these cells to serum-free, hormonally defined medium causes them to differentiate morphologically and acquire a number of molecular properties characteristic of neurons. Whereas undifferentiated cells lack the NILE/L1 glycoprotein, expression of this neuronal cell adhesion molecule is induced in the differentiating cells. Message for NILE/L1 becomes detectable after 5 days in serum-free medium, and cell-surface NILE/L1 can first be seen at this same time. Changes in two other cell adhesion molecules occur in parallel with the induction of NILE/L1. Fibronectin receptor is present on undifferentiated cells, but is down-regulated by the differentiating neurons. The neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) undergoes a shift from the very adhesive adult form to the less adhesive, highly sialylated embryonic form. These changes would appear to emphasize the role of NILE/L1 in adhesive interactions involving differentiating neurons. Some changes in ganglioside expression also occur during EC 1003.16 differentiation. Undifferentiated cells express the D 1.1 ganglioside but lack gangliosides that are reactive with the monoclonal antibody A2B5. Differentiating cells lose D 1.1 and become A2B5-positive. Since D 1.1 is characteristic of undifferentiated neuroepithelial cells and A2B5 reactivity is a marker for several types of differentiated neurons, these changes in vitro appear to mimic events that occur in vivo.
authors.affiliation: La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation, California 92037.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Stallcup
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000473:pathology*; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014746:Vimentin / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D014746:Vimentin; D014212:Tretinoin; D012313:RNA