[The main protein on the surface of the normal fibroblast (author's transl)].

In a general review, the authors discuss present knowledge on the main protein on the surface of the normal fibroblast, fibronectin. The peculiarities of this glycoprotein (localisation at the level of the cell surface, importance of thiol groups in the structure and expression of certain of its properties, reduction of the cells transformed by oncogenic viruses) are considered. The relationships which they may present with a plasma protein, cold insoluble globulin, are discussed together with the important role which they seem to play in the phenomena of cell adhesiveness.