11 Selective Aggregation Assays for Embryonic Brain Cells and Cell lines

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter illustrates how to assay the role of adhesion mechanisms in selective adhesion of embryonic brain cells and fibroblastic cell lines. The methods described in the chapter include how to dissociate cells while leaving a particular set of adhesion mechanisms intact, how to let them reaggregate, and how to evaluate selective cell adhesion. Cell-cell adhesion mechanisms are complex, and comprise multiple systems, Animals cells are known to exhibit selective adhesiveness. When cells derived from different tissues are mixed, they sort out. This property of cells is thought to play a key role in the organization of complex tissue architecture. Studies suggest that the selective adhesiveness of cells also contributes to regionalization in the embryonic brain. To understand the molecular basis of patterning in the developing brain, therefore, it is critical to accumulate much more information on the adhesion properties of the cells that belong to each compartment. There are many ways to measure and quantify cell-cell adhesiveness. A classic method is to dissociate cell masses into single cells, and observe their reaggregation process. This chapter presents an updated version of classic methods, illustrates how to dissociate cells, how to allow them to reaggregate, and how to assay their selective adhesiveness.