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Some Chemical Factors in Cellular Adhesion and Stickiness^*

( Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

The effects of a chelating agent, acid and alkaline phosphatase, and neuraminidase upon the mutual adhesiveness of buccal epithelial cells and upon the stickiness of these cells to siliconized glass were investigated. Stickiness to the foreign substrate was measured by a centrifugation method. Mutual adhesiveness was determined by micromanipulation. Whereas removal of calcium by disodium versenate caused a great reduction in mutual adhesiveness, it had no effect upon stickiness of the cells to the foreign substrate. Neuraminidase reduced stickiness of the cells to siliconized glass but had no effect upon mutual cellular adhesion. Acid and alkaline phosphatase reduced both stickiness and cellular adhesiveness. It is concluded that the mutual adhesiveness of these cells is dependent upon a calcium-bridge linkage between them and that at least some of this calcium is bound to phosphate groups at the cell surface. Stickiness of the cells to a foreign substrate is unaffected by calcium withdrawal and depends instead upon a soft, sticky substance that seems to be a complex containing mucopolysaccharide.

^* This investigation was supported by Grant No. C-3562 from the National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service.

Received 4/ 6/62.