A supramolecular theory for specificity in intracellular adhesion

This paper suggests that specificity in cell-cell adhesion may result from the supramolecular conformation or organization of cell surface adhesive molecules that may be similar or identical between cells of different adhesive affinities. A model is presented and its application to results from sea urchin gamete adhesion in vitro is discussed. In this system, we have observed that species specificity can be lost without losing adhesive capability. This suggests that specificity and adhesion reside at different levels of organization and the same or similar biochemical basis exists for gamete adhesive interactions of different species of urchins.