LONG-RANGE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CELL AND SUBSTRATUM

Abstract

An inter-relationship is suggested between the surface region of a cell and the underlying bulk material of the substratum whereby each region''s gharacteristics can extend over distances as great as a few thousand A and mutually affect one another. The studies were conducted on a monolayer of fatty acids, a mixed film of stearic acid-barium sulfate, deposited on the surface of a veronal buffer, pH 7.4, and various supporting bases composed of quartz, teflon, mylar, stainless steel and tantalum, and human conjuctiva cells. Significant mechanisms cited are the interaction between albumin and stearic acid, variable permeability of the outer monolayers, molecular surface inhomo-geneities, and long-range interactions consisting of co-operative long-range and propagated short-range forces. The cell substratum must be redefined as the surface together with its underlying bulk structures.