Binding of polycation DEAE-dextran to Chinese hamster ovary cells induces reversible Ca2+ influx and inhibits capping of concanavalin A acceptor proteins.

Binding of the polycation DEAE-dextran to the cell surface of HA-1 CHO cells caused a marked increase in 45Ca2+ exchange influx. The effect was fairly selective for Ca2+, undirectional (efflux was not increased) and was rapidly reversed by treatment with polyanion dextran sulfate. 45Ca2+ influx could not be stimulated by treatment with multivalent lectins or fibronectin. In addition to stimulating 45Ca2+ flux, DEAE-dextran inhibited the capping of concanavalin-A acceptor proteins. Inhibition of capping occurred over the same DEAE-dextran concentration range (20-200 micrograms/ml) which stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake, possibly implicating increased cellular [Ca2+] in the inhibition of concanavalin A acceptor protein capping in this cell type. The profound effect of DEAE-dextran on cellular Ca2+ uptake and the rapid reversal of the effect by dextran sulfate might make the polycation a useful agent for the induction of transient increases in cellular [Ca2+].