Studies of the uptake of macromolecules by cells. I. Uptake of proteins by cells of the Ehrlich–Lettré ascites carcinoma

Abstract

The uptake of protein by cells of the Ehrlich–Lettré ascites carcinoma was characterized kinetically by using hemoglobin as a model protein. An attempt was made to show that the process is not an artefact due to nonspecific adsorption of protein to the cell membrane. The kinetics of the uptake process suggested that an interaction exists between the exogenous protein and specific binding sites on the membrane. Acetylation of hemoglobin enhanced the rate of uptake of this protein. Treatment of cells with neuraminidase, phospholipase A, and Pronase resulted in an inhibition of protein uptake. The experimental evidence for the uptake of hemoglobin was supported by evidence that L-serine-U-14C-labelled hemoglobin is transported into the cytoplasm and utilized subsequently, resulting in labelling of the nucleic acid nucleotides.