title: Changes in fibroblast contractility, morphology, and adhesion in response to a phorbol ester tumor promoter.
abstract: We have studied the effects of the phorbol ester tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on the contractility, locomotion, morphology, and adhesion of two mammalian fibroblastic cell lines. Using the silicone rubber substratum technique, we have found that the first observable response to the tumor promoter is a rapid weakening of cell contractility (8-15 min). This is followed by gradual morphological changes, characterized by a hyperextension of the cells' leading lamellae, which stretch out to an unlimited degree, and occasionally even detach from the cell bodies. Treated cells also become able to crawl onto hydrophobic substrata which are insufficiently adhesive to support the spreading of untreated fibroblasts. We suggest that both the hyperextension and the ability to spread on nonadhesive surfaces can be explained as consequences of the reduced contractility, and that this reduced contractility may also help to explain the increased invasiveness and loss of anchorage dependence by transformed cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-3280.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Danowski
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005849:Gerbillinae; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate