Surface charge and structure of cells with special reference of the cell electrophoresis

Abstract

Recent progress in cell biology is demonstrating that the plasma membrance plays the important roles responsible for the growth and the differentiation of animal cells, as a mediator of cell-to-cell interaction. Cell electrophoresis is one of the methods of characterizing the cell surface with a minimal of external influence.
The charge pattern of the cell surface reflects ionogenic groups at glycocalix or cell coat, a carbohydrate-rich layer, which locates the most peripheral region of plasma membrane. Changes which have been produced in the cell electrophoretic mobility by biophysical and biochemical means permit deductions about the nature of membrane structures. The ionogenic substances at the cell surface are sialic acid, mucopolysaccharides, lipids, RNA and proteins. These substances on the cell surface was discussed in connection with cell growth and differentation.