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Immobilization of concanavalin A receptors during differentiation of neuroblastoma cells

Nature volume 290, pages 781–783 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

Neuroblastoma cells serve as a useful model of neuronal development because compounds such as dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and dibutyryl cyclic AMP cause them to undergo a process of controlled differentiation in tissue culture, during which they can extend long processes, develop characteristic excitability mechanisms, synthesize neurotransmitters and form synapses1–3. We have used the technique of fluorescence photo-bleaching recovery to study the lateral mobility of cell-surface constituents during the differentiation of neuroblastoma clone N1E-115 cells. The concanavalin A (Con A) binding sites appear as discrete patches distributed over the entire cell surface and exhibit lateral mobility in undifferentiated cells comparable with that of surface glycoproteins of other cells. After induction of differentiation, however, the vast majority of Con A binding sites become immobilized, and we present data which suggest that the mechanism of this immobilization may involve linkage to the internal actin network.

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Author notes

  1. Paul R. Dragsten

    Present address: The Proctor and Gamble Company, Research and Development Department, PO Box 39175, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45247, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, NICHD, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014, USA

    Mark C. Fishman

  2. Laboratory of Theoretical Biology, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014, USA

    Paul R. Dragsten

  3. Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics, NHLBI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014, USA

    Ilan Spector

Authors
  1. Mark C. Fishman
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  2. Paul R. Dragsten
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  3. Ilan Spector
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Fishman, M., Dragsten, P. & Spector, I. Immobilization of concanavalin A receptors during differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. Nature 290, 781–783 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/290781a0

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