Differentiation-related changes in glycoprotein synthesis by human keratinocytes

Human keratinocytes were cultured in media in which the Ca2+ concentration controlled the stage of differentiation. In media containing less than 0.1 mM-Ca2+ keratinocytes grew as a monolayer, but in the presence of 2mM-Ca2+ the cells differentiated and formed stratified colonies. Glycoproteins of both stratified and unstratified cells were radiolabelled by metabolic incorporation of radioactive precursors and by cell-surface labelling using galactose oxidase/NaB3H4. The radiolabelled keratinocytes were extracted with 0.5% Triton X-100, and the glycoproteins in both the Triton X-100-soluble and Triton X-100-insoluble fractions were analysed by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS. Two Triton X-100-soluble glycoproteins with high Mr values (greater than 200,000) were major glycoproteins in stratified keratinocytes, but were present in only trace amounts in unstratified keratinocytes. Characterization of these glycoproteins by examination of the effect of tunicamycin on their synthesis and the effect of neuraminidase on their migration characteristics showed that they were cell-surface sialoglycoproteins containing O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides. Analysis of the adherent cytoskeletons left after Triton X-100 extraction of stratified and unstratified keratinocytes revealed that a glycoprotein of Mr 184,000 was decreased in stratified keratinocytes. Incubation of unstratified keratinocytes in high-Ca2+ medium resulted in a rapid modification of the glycoprotein of Mr 184,000, and it is suggested that this event may be related to desmosome formation and stratification.