Cell adhesion and proteoglycans. I. The effect of exogenous proteoglycans on the attachment of chick embryo fibroblasts to tissue culture plastic and collagen.

Proteoglycan was isolated from cartilage and freed from contaminating glycoproteins and hyaluronic acid. The macromolecule consists of a protein core covalently linked to a number of glycosaminoglycan side chains, namely chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate. This proteoglycan retards the attachment of a variety of cell types to tissue culture plastic and to collagen. Glycosaminoglycans alone, have no significant effect on rates of attachment. Similarly, trypsinized proteoglycan is without effect. It is concluded that the structural integrity of the proteoglycan macromolecule is essential for its effect on cell adhesion.