title: Collagen biosynthesis in human neuroblastoma cell lines: evidence for expression of glial cell properties.
abstract: An analysis was done on the synthesis of collagen, an extracellular matrix protein synthesized by Schwann cells, by several human neuroblastoma lines. Cultured cells were incubated in the presence of L-[2,3-3H]proline, and the collagens synthesized and secreted into the culture medium were analyzed by electrophoresis on acrylamide gels, ion exchange chromatography, and immunoprecipitation. The amount of collagen secreted by 4 cell lines tested represented less than 3% of the total protein synthesis, indicating a low degree of collagen biosynthesis by this tumor type. Analysis of collagen types secreted by all cell lines revealed the presence of a high-molecular-weight collagen precursor (Mr = 165,000) identified as type IV procollagen. In addition, several cell lines synthesized stromal type I and type III collagens. These studies show that neuroblastoma cells produce collagenous proteins including basement membrane collagen (type IV) and stromal collagens (types I and III), indicating that these cells express properties of glial cells such as Schwann cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002848:Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology*; D010434:Pepsin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D003094:Collagen; D010434:Pepsin A