Role of cell shape in growth control

Abstract

Tissue culture [bovine aortic endothelial cells] plastic adhesivity was precisely varied by applying different concentrations of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The extent of cell spreading was thus accurately controlled so that cells cultured on these substrata could be held at any one of a graded series of quantitated cell shapes. Cell shape was tightly coupled to DNA synthesis and growth in nontransformed cells. A mechanism that is important in growth control of mammalian cells is suggested, and provides a more fundamental interpretation of such phenomena as density dependent inhibition of cell growth and anchorage dependence.