Glucocorticoids induce an alteration of the surface of hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells as expressed by changes in cell electrophoretic, antigenic, and adhesive properties . The alteration is assayed by the increased adhesiveness of induced cells for a glass surface . The induction process has a lag period of about 3 hr and attains a plateau level after 24-30 hr when 50-80% of the steroid-treated cells are firmly adhered . Less than 10% of untreated cells adhere under the same conditions . Induction is inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide, demonstrates both pH and temperature dependence, and responds to changes in steroid concentration and structure . By contrast, the attachment per se of preinduced cells is not affected by inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis, fluctuations of temperature and pH, and the presence or absence of the hormone . When the induction process is reversed by removal of steroid or addition of actinomycin D, preinduced adhesiveness is lost with a half-life of 13-24 hr, but in the presence of cycloheximide the loss is accelerated (t I/ 2 3-5 .5 hr) . These results suggest that glucocorticoids induce the biosynthesis of a protein which either modifies the cell surface (an enzyme) or is incorporated into surface structures (structural protein) .
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