• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.457-464
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• 1995

Hela cells, a transformed human epithelial cell line, attach to various substrata but subsequent spreading is specific to collagen or gelatin. The spreading is initiated by the activation of phospholipase $A_2$ (PLA$_2$) which produces arachidonic acid (AA) as a consequence of cell surface collagen receptor clustering. This study examines the mechanism of PLA$_2$activation and which phospholipids are hydrolyzed by PIA$_2$ to release AA in response to Hela cell adhesion to a gelatin substratum. The levels of phosphatidyicholine decreases, among various phospholipids, during attachment and spreading of Hela cells. Lysophosphatidyicholine Is the only lysophospholipids formed during ileLa cell adhesion indicating that clustered collagen receptors activate PLA$_2$to hydrolyze posphatidylcholine to AA and lysophosphatidylcholine. Among various molecular entitles which are known to regulate PLA$_2$ activation, we have previously shown that PLA2 activation is not mediated by either changes in $Ca_2$+ levels, alkalinization of cytoplasmic p11, or activation of protein hinase C. It is also likely that PIA2 activation is not mediated by either pertussis or cholera toxinsensitive G proteins as those toxins do not affect both AA release and cell spreading.