Synthetic peptide with cell attachment activity of fibronectin

Four synthetic peptides that together constitute the cell attachment domain of fibronectin [Pierschbacher, M.D., Ruoslahti, E., Sundelin, J., Lind, P. & Peterson, P. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 9593-9597] were constructed and tested for their ability to induce cell attachment and spreading. One of these peptides, consisting of the 30 amino acid residues nearest the COOH terminus of the domain, contained all of the cell attachment activity of the whole domain. Under suitable conditions the peptide was approximately as active as intact fibronectin on a molar basis. The activity could be demonstrated by binding the peptide to polystyrene directly, or via albumin, or by coupling it to agarose beads. This synthetic peptide will be useful in the elucidation of the molecular details of the attachment of cells to fibronectin and could allow manipulation of the adhesive properties of cell culture surfaces and prosthetic materials.