Control of a cell surface major glycoprotein by epidermal growth factor.

When the serum concentration of the culture medium is below 0.7 per-cent, 3T3 mouse cells lose most of their large external transformation sensitive (LETS) protein at the cell surface, Subsequent addition of epidermal growth factor results in the reappearance of massive fibrillar LETS protein networks on the surface of conluent 3T3 cells. Thirteen other hormones tested do not have this effect. It appears that epidermal growth factor can control the expression of LETS protein.