Evolution of Cell Adhesion Systems: Evidence for Arg-Gly-Asp-Mediated Adhesion in the Protozoan Neoparamoeba aestuarina |
| |
Authors: | MARCIO R CUSTODIO GEORG IMSIECKE RADOVAN BOROJEVIC BARUCH RINKEVICH REW ROGERSON WERNER E G MÜLLER |
| |
Institution: | Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Universität, Duesbergweg 6, D-55099 Mainz Germany;Departamento de Bioquímica, Institute de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro UFRJ, Caixa Postal 68021, 21944-970 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel Shikmona, P.O. Box 8030, Haifa 31080, Israel;University Marine Biological Station Millport, Isle ofCumbre, KA28 OEG, Scotland |
| |
Abstract: | ABSTRACT. Developmental processes in multicellular organisms require structural elements, such as adhesion molecules, to stabilize cells at functional positions. In vertebrates, a series of extracellular matrix proteins, e.g. fibronectin and laminin are involved in cell adhesion. These proteins contain Arg-Gly-Asp RGD] at their binding sites. Here we show that at concentrations above 2 mM the peptide GRG D SPK, comprising the tripeptide RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp), prevents the adhesiveness of cells of the marine amoeba Neopar-amoeba aestuarina. In addition, elevated levels of GRG D SPK cause cells to alter their shapes from those with digitiform subpseudopodia to rounded cells with small lobed pseudopodia. These cells detach from the substratum. These results are specific for the RGD sequence, because incubation in GRG E SPK solution at the same concentrations had no effect on cell attachment or structure. From these data we suggest that the structural adhesion molecules identified in vertebrates shows amino acid homologies with those found in unicellular protozoa. |
| |
Keywords: | Adhesion molecules amoeba collagen development fibronectin integrins RGD |
|
|