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A novel model for studying adhesive interactions
Author(s) -
CoyleThompson Cathy,
Oppenheimer Steven B.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a876-d
Subject(s) - blastocoel , gastrulation , adhesion , embryo , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , chemistry , anatomy , embryogenesis , organic chemistry
A classic model cellular interaction is the adhesion of the tip of the advancing archenteron to the blastocoel roof during gastrulation in the sea urchin embryo. Here we present a novel approach to study cellular interactions, using this specific model, in pristine environments, away from all confounding factors. Thirty‐one fixed (3.7% formaldehyde) and 39 live 48‐54 hour Lytechinus pictus gastrula embryos were dissected using insect pins to obtain isolated pieces of the blastocoel roof and archenteron. These pieces adhered to each other as they do in the whole embryo. Fixed pieces were preferable to live because they did not lose structural integrity or move. Fixed pieces from 54 hour embryos bound to FITC‐Lens culinaris agglutinin (0.045 micrograms per microliter) and this binding was inhibited by 0.2 M alpha‐methyl‐mannose. Lens culinaris agglutinin reduced the adhesiveness of the pieces with each other, suggesting that the ligands to which the lectin binds may be involved in the adhesion of archenteron and blastocoel roof, as also suggested in whole live embryos (Acta Histochemica 100: 193–200, 1998; 101: 293–303, 1999). These results were obtained in 3 repeated experiments with 16 embryos. Study of isolated pieces of cellular interactions is a novel approach for investigating adhesive mechanisms in pristine environments. (supported by NIH NIGMS SCORE, RISE, ITQ program and the Joseph Drown Foundation).