Morphological reverse transformation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and surface fibronectin.

Alterations in the distribution of surface fibronectin during reverse transformation of chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells induced by dibutyryl adenosine cyclic monophosphate (dbcAMP) and theophylline was examined by indirect immunofluorescence. dbcAMP-induced reverse transformation was not followed by any significant increase in surface fibronectin up to 48 hrs after treatment. Reverse transformation induced by theophylliner by itself or in combination with dbcAMP is followed several hours later by a phenomenal increase in fibrillar surface fibronectin, which is largely persistent even in the presence of cytochalasin-B or colcemid but is sensitive to the presence of cycloheximide. It appears that reverse transformation consists at least of two steps: (a) morphological reversion to normal phenotype and (b) modulation of cell membrane properties or components favouring retention of fibronectin in the cell surface.