The electrophoretic mobility of normal and leukaemic cells of mice

1. The pH-mobility relationships for saline-washed cells from a mouse strain of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were examined before and after treatment with lower aldehydes, diazomethane and neuraminidase (EC 3.2.1.18). 2. The content of sialic acid released into the supernatant fluid of neuraminidase-treated cells was measured. 3. The stability of the charge-determining structures to temporary changes in environment (pH and ionic strength) was established. 4. Similar measurements were made on lymph-node cells obtained from non-leukaemic mice (a resistant and a leukaemia-susceptible strain were examined). 5. It is deduced that both the malignant and the non-malignant cell possess two dissociable acid functions at the cell surface, a carboxyl group of sialic acid and another acidic group(s), probably carboxyl, of pK 3.0-4.5. The malignant cells, however, have a basic dissociable function not present in the non-malignant types. 6. Suggestions are made as to how the difference in surface chemistry may be related to the problem of malignancy.