The splicing pattern of fibronectin mRNA changes during chondrogenesis resulting in an unusual form of the mRNA in cartilage

Chondrogenesis, the differentiation of mesenchyme into cartilage, results in a change in composition of the extracellular matrix. The cartilage matrix contains several unique components, including type II collagen and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan; it also contains fibronectin, a glycoprotein that mediates the interaction of cells with their matrix. We show that chick cartilage fibronectin mRNA contains an unusual pattern of alternatively spliced exons. Specifically, it contains exon IIIB but does not contain exon IIIA whereas fibronectin mRNA from mesenchyme contains both exons IIIB and IIIA. Thus the splicing pattern of the fibronectin mRNA must change from B+A+ to B+A- during chondrogenesis. Most fibronectin mRNA in other mesenchymal tissues contains exon IIIA but little exon IIIB (B-A+). Culturing of chondrocytes (cartilage-producing cells) results in loss of exon IIIB from fibronectin mRNA (B-A-). Manipulation of culture conditions to produce more adhesive chondrocytes (treatment with hyaluronidase, transformation with Rous sarcoma virus, and treatment with retinoic acid) increases the amount of fibronectin mRNA containing exon IIIA. These results suggest that exon IIIB may mediate the interactions of chondrocytes with the unique components of the cartilage matrix and exon IIIA may play a role in chondrocyte adhesion.