FIBRONECTIN DELAYS THE FUSION OF L6 MYOBLASTS

The effect of fibronectin on myogenesis has been studied in vitro. The addition of purified fibronectin to the myogenic cell line L6 blocks fusion and causes an increase in cell number. The effects of fibronectin could be prevented by the immunoprecipitation of fibronectin from solutions using affinity-purified antifibronectin antibodies. Mild trypsinization of the cells (10 μ/ml trypsin for 20 min) which removes surface fibronectin, causes the rate of fusion to increase when the trypsinization is done just before the cells begin to fuse, day 4 (after the plating of the cells), an inhibition when done on one day earlier, day 3, and has no effect when done after the cells have begun to fuse, day 5. By measuring the binding of rhodamine-labeled antifibronectin antibodies to intact cells, it was found that surface fibronectin increased from day 3 to day 4 and then decreased on day 5. The stimulating effect of trypsin on fusion, therefore, corresponds to the day surface fibronectin reaches a peak. Affinity-purified antifibronectin antibodies were also shown to be capable of enhancing fusion. It is concluded from these results that high levels of fibronectin stimulate events which reduce fusion, whereas the removal of surface fibronectin during critical times either stimulates or reduces fusion. © 1979.