Abstract
An established Drosophila neuronal cell line (BG2-c6) proved to be useful to analyze laminin-mediated cell spreading and signal transduction [Takagi et al. (2000) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 270:482-487]. Here, we report, in addition to the whole molecule, the truncated alpha chain of Drosophila laminin (containing the entire carboxyl-terminal globular domain) and two dodecapeptides corresponding to the cell-binding sites identified in the alpha1 chain of mouse laminin were also active to stimulate BG2-c6 cell spreading. Our previous study [Takagi et al. (1996) J Biol Chem 271:18074-18081] revealed that these recombinant protein and synthetic peptides promoted neurite outgrowth in the primary cell culture system prepared from Drosophila embryo. Therefore, the similar effects by these proteins and peptides suggest the presence of a common mechanism of laminin and neuronal cell interaction working in both primary and established cells. One of the two active peptides contains the sequence SIKVGV. Its murine counterpart carries the sequence SIKVAV by which the interaction of laminin and cells is mediated. Furthermore, laminin-dependent BG2-c6 cell spreading was inhibited by heparin. This observation suggests that cell surface glycoproteins participate in the interaction of laminin and BG2-c6 cells.
