Characteristics of a human epidermal squamous carcinoma cell line at different extracellular calcium concentrations

A continuous line derived from a human skin squamous cell carcinoma has been grown in media of high, normal and low Ca2+ concentrations. The growth rate was unaffected by the Ca2+ levels even though morphological changes were observed. Desmosomes were absent at low Ca2+ and areas of cell piling were observed at high Ca2+. Cell protein staining patterns on polyacrylamide gels were identical for cells grown at the three Ca2+ levels. The variations were minor for the glycoproteins reacted with 125I-conA. Lactoperoxidase iodination revealed changes in cell surface proteins, most markedly in the emergence of new proteins at high Ca2+.