Calcium ions protect cell-substratum adhesion receptors against proteolysis. Evidence from immunoabsorption and electroblotting studies.

An antibody preparation against BHK cell wheat germ agglutinin receptors (anti-WGA-R), which inhibits fibronectin-mediated cell adhesion, was characterized by immunoabsorption and electroblotting experiments. The results indicated that a 48 kD cell surface WGA-R receptor is protected from proteolysis by Ca2+ ions and is important in fibronectin-mediated cell adhesion.