Basement membrane and interstitial matrix components form separate matrices in heterokaryons of PYS-2 cells and fibroblasts.

In order to gain further understanding of the spatial organization of interstitial and basement membrane matrices, we studied the expression of the interstitial matrix protein, fibronectin, and the basement membrane protein, laminin, in heterokaryons formed by the fusion of normal fibroblasts and teratocarcinoma-derived epithelial PYS-2 cells. These heterokaryons showed various distributions of the matrix proteins depending on the proportions of the different parental cell nuclei within the cytoplasm of the cell. Heterokaryons containing equal numbers of fibroblast and PYS-2 cell nuclei showed an abundant laminin matrix subcellularly and only minor amounts of fibronectin matrix at the periphery of the cells. Similar results were obtained in heterokaryons containing an excess of epithelial cell nuclei. In heterokaryons containing an excess of fibroblast nuclei, on the other hand, laminin matrix was reduced and a fibrillar fibronectin matrix was seen also on top of the cell body. The results suggest a gene dosage-type of effect on the expression of these proteins. Furthermore, extracellular laminin and fibronectin matrices did not codistribute around the heterokaryons but the two proteins were assembled into separate structures. The lack of codistribution of fibronectin and laminin matrices in heterokaryons suggests that the molecular interactions, which determine the assembly of basement membrane and interstitial matrices in these cells are highly type-specific. Similar mechanisms may also operate in the assembly of extracellular matrices in vivo.