Cell surface carbohydrates act as specific recognition molecules for
intercellular adhesion among certain cells.
Glycosphingolipids represent a group of cell
surface glycoconjugates that are easily separated and analyzed by thin layer
chromatography. The cell adhesion chamber was specifically designed to permit the assay of
cell adhesion directly on glycosphingolipids separated on thin layer chromatograms.
Cells are centrifuged directly on the TLC plate to form immediate close contact with chromatographed glycosphingolipids. The position of the bound cells corresponds to the Rf
value of the glycosphingolipid ligand which may be used for purification and structural
characterization of the functional carbohydrate sequence.
Refer to Protocol 9 |