Alterations in cell surface properties induced by modified purines.

Primary Chinese hamster embryo cultures exposed chronically to 1-methylguanine or 7-methylguanine, modified purines derived from nucleic acid turnover, exhibit a number of properties characteristic of transformed cell lines. One of the earliest effects observed following exposure of cells to the methylated purines is an alteration in cell surface properties as measured by the interaction of the cells with the lectin concanavalin A. Within sixteen hours following inclusion of the compounds in the culture medium, the cells exhibit an increase in concanavalin A mediated hemadsorption. The increase in hemadsorption is accompanied by an alteration in distribution of receptors within the cell population as measured by flow microfluorometry using fluorescin conjugated concanavalin A, and by a decrease in the total number of receptors as measured by binding of radiolabelled concanavalin A. Possible mechanisms for these alterations and their significance for growth control are discussed.