Abstract
We developed a cell-spreading model of permeabilized BHK cells to analyze molecular interactions in the cell-spreading machinery. BHK cells in suspension were allowed to attach onto the fibronectincoated cover slips at 37°C for 20 min. The cells were then permeabilized with 50 μg/ml saponin for 10 min at 4°C. Approximately 50 percent of the cell models spread in response to exogenous 1 Mm ATP for 90 min at 37°C. Anti-actin antibody penetrated into almost all the cell models which spread ATP-dependently. These indicate that half number of the cell models permeabilized with saponin is spread by the exogenous ATP and has pores larger than an IgG molecule.
