Change in the topographical distribution of GM3 during cell spreading and growth: immunostaining with monoclonal antibody against GM3.

A monoclonal antibody, M2590, that recognizes hematoside (GM3) was used to analyze the immunostaining localization of GM3 of the surface of transformed and non-transformed hamster embryo fibroblasts and B16 melanoma cells. The reactivity of GM3 with the antibody changed markedly depending on the cell density. At the sparse density cells were clearly made visible by the antibody, but at the confluency the accessibility of the antibody to GM3 was greatly decreased. This density dependent change in the reactivity of GM3 was found for both normal and transformed cells. The staining pattern of GM3 was examined in relation to the actin fibers made visible with NBD-Phallacidin during cell spreading. When the cells were still round, the GM3 on microspikes or blebs was highly reactive with the antibody, and by the time cells showed circumferential staining of their actin fibers, GM3 had been distributed over the entire cell surface as punctuated spots. GM3 also was visible in substrate attachment materials (SAM). Trypsin treatment of SAM diminished the reactivity of GM3 with the antibody. The antibody did not inhibit cell attachment or spreading on a substratum coated with fibronectin or laminin.