Cellular Electrophoretic Mobility and the Mitotic Cycle

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The electrophoretic mobility of RPMI No. 41 cells grown in suspension, parasynchronized by double thymidine blocking and cold shock, is reported. No. 41 cells have a higher electrophoretic mobility during the mitotic peak phase than at other times in the mitotic cycle. Treatment of parasynchronous cells by neuraminidase reduces the mobility to the same value irrespective of the stage of the cells in the mitotic cycle. The higher electrophoretic mobility of cells in mitotic peak phase is probably due to ahigher surface charge density at this time, possibly caused by a higher concentration of ionized neuraminic acidcarboxyl groups at the hydrodynamic shear layer. The mobility of nonsynchronous rapidly and slowly growing cells differs; neuraminidase reduces their mobility by proportionately similar amounts. The results suggest that the differences in mobility between rapidly and slowly growingcells cannot be accountedfor exclusively by differences in the amount of neuraminic acid groups at the shear layer.