Scanning electron microscopy studies of interaction of proteins and polyamino acids with erythroblasts transformed by friend virus

Abstract

Scanning electron microscope studies were carried out on the cell surface responses and adhesive properties of cultured erythroblasts transformed by Friend virus (HFL cells) after incubation with different proteinaceous compounds for 10 min at 5 C. Surface responses observed were changes in the number of microvilli and the appearance of localized blebs and domains of depressions. Although each compound caused several different changes in cell surface morphology, it was possible, in some cases, to identify a dominant morphological type. Compounds with greatly different physicochemical properties often resulted in almost the same changes in surface topography. Cell-to-cell adhesion by Concanavalin A and gelatin was observed. Aggregates of from 2 cells formed with poly-L-lysine to 20 cells with gelatin. Phosphate-buffered saline alone formed aggregates of up to 12 cells.