An anti-carbohydrate monoclonal antibody inhibits cell-substratum adhesion of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells.

A monoclonal rat IgM antibody (4C9) raised against F9 embryonal carcinoma cells reacted with fucosyl residues in poly-N-acetyllactosamine-type large carbohydrates of these cells (embryoglycan). The chemical properties and distribution of the antigen resembled those of SSEA-1. The monoclonal antibody was found to inhibit cell-substratum adhesion of F9 cells: in the presence of the antibody, cells grew as spherical cell aggregates on plastic dishes. When the antibody was added to the already spread cells, they displayed the initial sign of rounding up within 3 h; the rounding process was largely completed within 6 h. After removal of the antibody, cells resumed their normal morphology. The antibody could act in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol. In serum-free medium, F9 cells spread on plastic dishes coated with fibronectin or with laminin, and the process was also inhibited by the antibody. Immuno-electronmicroscopy revealed that 4C9 antigen was diffusely distributed over the cell surface of F9 cells. The distribution of the antigen was not altered generally after culturing with the antibody for 6 h. Another monoclonal rat IgM antibody, which did not react with embryoglycan and resembled anti-Forssman, did not inhibit cell-substratum adhesion of F9 cells, in spite of its reactivity to the cells. Thus, a glycoprotein with fucosyl (poly)-N-acetyllactosamine structure appears to be involved in cell-substratum adhesion of F9 cells.