Dependence of the differentiated state on the cellular environment: modulation of collagen synthesis in tendon cells

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.74.10.4453· OSTI ID:6438812

Schwarz, R I; Bissell, M J

In an adequate environment, primary avian tendon cells are capable of retaining both the full expression of differentiated function and a corrent morphological orientation for 1 week in culture. At high density and in the presence of ascorbate, they are fully stabilized in that they devote 25 to 30% of their total protein synthesis to collagen, a level comparable to that in tendon cells in ovo. However, either at low density or in medium without ascorbate, they synthesize collagen at only a third of this level. If plated on a collagen matrix, these cells will orient themselves in a manner similar to that of tendon cells in vivo. Furthermore, they are capable of fully modulating the percentage of collagen synthesis upon addition or removal of ascorbate and serum. The variation in the percentage of collagen produced is a result of alterations in collagen synthesis rather than of changes in total protein synthesis or hydroxylation of proline in collagen. Primary avian tendon cells, therefore, provide a suitable model for understanding the stability of the differentiated state, the mechanism of action of ascorbate, and the regulation of collagen biosynthesis.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley
• OSTI ID: 6438812
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 74:10; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
550300 -- Cytology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ASCORBIC ACID
BIOSYNTHESIS
BIRDS
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CHICKENS
COLLAGEN
EMBRYOS
FOWL
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
SCLEROPROTEINS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
VITAMINS