Cells determine cell density using a small protein bound to a unique tissue-specific phospholipid.

ABSTRACT: Cell density is the critical parameter controlling tendon morphogenesis. Knowing its neighbors allows a cell to regulate correctly its proliferation and collagen production. A missing link to understanding this process is a molecular description of the sensing mechanism. Previously, this mechanism was shown in cell culture to rely on a diffusible factor (SNZR [sensor]) with an affinity for the cell layer. This led to purifying conditioned medium over 4 columns and analyzing the final column fractions for band intensity on SDS gels versus biological activity - a 16 kD band strongly correlated between assays. N-terminal sequencing - EPLAVVDL - identified a large gene (424 AA), extremely conserved between chicken and human. In this paper we probe whether this is the correct gene. Can the pred

SUBMITTER: Petzold CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3817597 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature