Cell surface glycosyl transferases and acceptors in normal and RNA- and DNA-virus transformed fibroblasts

Abstract

Cell surface glycosyl transferases and acceptors were found to be present in normal and oncogenic virus transformed fibroblasts. In cells from confluent cultures, the reaction was elevated 2- to 4-fold in MSV-3T3, RSV-3T3 and PY-3T3 cells compared to normal 3T3 cells, but in cells from sparse cultures, the reaction was essentially equivalent in the normal and transformed cells. Using exogenous acceptors, elevated surface levels of some glycoprotein:glycosyl transferases were demonstrated in the RNA- and DNA-virus transformed cells. The results may be important in phenomena such as cell:-cell adhesion and contact inhibition.