Evidence for a second class of membrane glycoprotein involved in cell adhesion

Abstract

It is believed that transmembrane relationships exist between the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix through integral membrane proteins, almost certainly glycoproteins, which would act as transmembrane receptors. Such receptors would include those involved in cell adhesion. I have been able to isolate a detergent-soluble fraction from chick embryo fibroblasts that is enriched in these integral membrane proteins by making use of their amphipathic character to phase-separate them in the detergent Triton X-114. Antisera raised to this fraction had biological activities interfering with cell adhesion and motility. A 45 X 10(3) Mr glycoprotein unique to this fraction appears to be responsible for this biological activity and is a candidate for a transmembrane receptor involved in cell adhesion.