Alterations of membrane glycoproteins in malignant cells.

Comparisons have been made of the carbohydrates bound to membrane proteins of control and malignant cells in culture. It has been found that most individual glycoproteins of control and malignant cells differ in their carbohydrate components. Differences between control and malignant cells have been foundin the glycoproteins of the various membrane systems (surface, nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum). It is suggested that the extensive changes in bound carbohydrates of the malignant cell permit the cell to live and divide but isolate the cell functionally. The extensive structural changes may also be responsible for the cascading of involvement of various processes within the malignant cell.