CONCANAVALIN A INCREASES THE STRENGTH OF BABY HAMSTER KIDNEY CELL ATTACHMENT TO SUBSTRATUM

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Abstract
The strength of attachment of normal and transformed baby hamster kidney cells was markedly increased when attached cells were treated with concanavalin A (Con A). The cells became less sensitive to detachment by physical shear or by treatment with trypsin or EDTA; however, their morphology, as observed by phase contrast microscopy, did not change. The effects of Con A were prevented by the simultaneous addition of either D-glucose or α-methyl-D-glucoside with the Con A. Also addition of these reagents to the attached cells after Con A treatment partially reversed the effects caused by Con A. Pre-treatment of the culture flasks with Con A before cell attachment resulted in an increase in the strength of cell attachment to the culture flasks as compared to untreated controls.