CELL-SURFACE ALTERATIONS IN EMBRYONIC-TISSUES EXPOSED TO RGD-PEPTIDES- SELECTIVE EXPRESSION

Whole animal studies have implicated cell adhesion molecules in a dive rse array of developmental processes. The present study reports on the morphological effects of RGD-related peptides on the cell surface of various living chick embryonic tissues. We report a novel and characte ristic plasma membrane reaction that is caused by treatment with diffe rent RGD-peptides. Not only does each peptide evoke a response in cert ain tissues and not in others, but each brings about a specific type o f plasma membrane reaction (bleb). Although the mechanisms are unknown , the specificity of this phenomenon suggests that it could provide a window into new surface interactions in morphogenetic systems.