[Comparison of the effects of concanavalin A on cell growth and the transport of 3-O-methylglucose in chick embryo fibroblasts].

The proliferative capacity of Chick embryo fibroblasts was modified by Con A treatment. Con A decreased the growth of fibroblasts from young embryos (8 days), whereas the lectin stimulated the growth of fibroblasts from older embryos (16 days). This differential effect of Con A did not result from changes in cellular permeability to thymidine, but rather from Con A induced modifications of hexose transport. Changes in hexose transport would cause, as a response, parallel modifications in glycolysis and hence energy charge, which would alter proliferative capacity.