On the role of the cell coat glycoproteins in the permeability of the cell.

The release of a part of the cell coat of Ehrlich ascites cells by chelation with ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid modifies significatively the uptake of various radioactive molecules. This phenomenon seems to be related to a change in the permeabililty of the cell membrane. The chemical analyses of the released material appear to indicate that glycoproteins are involved in that change and that their release modifies the structural and physiological characteristics of the cell membrane.