Relationship of a Mr 140 fibronectin receptor and other adhesion-related glycoproteins to tumor cell-cell interaction.
Primary melanocytes attach poorly to collagen type IV and laminin, in contrast to their firm attachment to collagen type I/III and fibronectin [Gilchrest et al., In vitro (Rockville), 21: 114-120, 1985]. We have now found that metastatic B16 melanoma cells attach well to collagen type IV, laminin, vitronectin, and fibronectin but show a selective defect in attachment and cell aggregation on native collagen type I. Both flattened and aggregated melanoma cells revealed the presence of a Mr 120,000 surface-iodinated species with affinity for a matrix containing the hexapeptide (glycylarginylglycylaspartylserylproline) which includes the fibronectin cell attachment sequence, but only flattened cells showed significant exposure of a Mr 140,000 iodinated component with affinity for a large cell attachment-promoting fibronectin polypeptide. Decrease of the Mr 140,000 fibronectin-binding external protein in the collagen-cultured melanoma cells was also associated with an inability to respond to the cell attachment activity of fibronectin, laminin, or vitronectin added to the collagen gels. Metabolic labeling with [3H]glucosamine and electrophoretic analysis showed that lack of attachment and cell aggregation was associated with an increase in high molecular weight wheat germ agglutinin-binding glycoconjugates and an increase in Mr 55,000 concanavalin A-binding glycoprotein species. Our data suggest that: (a) melanoma cell attachment requires the expression of the Mr 140,000 fibronectin receptor which appears to be down regulated in cells exposed to poorly adhesive substrates; (b) expression of the Mr 120,000 iodinated species with affinity for the fibronectin attachment sequence (arginylglycylaspartic acid) may be necessary but not sufficient for firm cell-substratum interactions; (c) increased tumor cell-cell interaction may involve a decreased attachment to substrate and the expression of different glycoproteins which may modulate cell-cell association.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002450:Cell Communication; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006031:Glycosylation; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis*
D006023:Glycoproteins; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D003094:Collagen