title: Cytoskeletal and DNA synthesis modification by concanavalin A in embryonic fibroblasts maintained in serum-free and serum-added medium.
abstract: The administration of lectin concanavalin A (Con A) to in vitro cultures of chick embryo fibroblasts caused dose-dependent changes in cell shape, cytoskeleton network and DNA synthesis. After 6 hrs. even a low doses of Con A produced evident effects in serum-free cultures, whereas higher doses were required to cause alterations in cells cultured in serum-added medium. As the sugar competitor mannoside abolishes the effects, it would seem that the lectin acts by binding to transmembrane receptors and that the fibronectin present in the serum engages the receptors so that they are not available to Con A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bodo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Becchetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pezzetti
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baroni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calvitti
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Alia
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arena
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003470:Culture Media; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004247:DNA