Phenotype modulation in non-adherent and adherent sublines of Walker carcinosarcoma cells: the role of cell-substratum contacts and microtubules in controlling cell shape, locomotion and cytoskeletal structure

We characterised two sublines of Walker carcinosarcoma cells generated by epigenetic changes. Subline 1 cells were mostly polarised and made no or only non-adhesive cell-substratum contacts. Subline 2 cells were spread, adhesive and mainly non-polar. Subline 1 cells migrate in a non-adhesive mode which is very efficient but operates only in a 3D environment, whereas subline 2 cells migrate in an adhesive mode, which is less efficient but works on 2D and 3D substrata. Nocodazole had little or no effect on shape, polarity and locomotion of subline 1 cells. In glass-adherent subline 2 cells, 10 −6 M nocodazole increased the proportion of polarised cells migrating in an adhesive mode and decreased adhesion to the substratum, whereas 10 −5 M nocodazole further reduced the contacts and the cells reverted to a non-adhesive mode of locomotion. When non-polar subline 2 cells were detached mechanically or by nocodazole, they became polarised and morphologically indistinguishable from non-adherent subline 1 cells. On more adhesive plastic substrata, subline 2 cells produced heterogeneous responses to nocodazole including loss of polarity. The phenotypes of Walker carcinosarcoma sublines have similarities with a broad range of cell types ranging from leucocytes to fibroblast-like cells, suggesting that these phenotypic differences can be controlled by the adhesive and contractile state rather than the cell type. Adhesion modulates contractility (isometric or isotonic contraction) and vice versa and this determines morphology (shape, F-actin, myosin and α-actinin), locomotion and responses to microtubule-disassembly. The model may be applied to analyse the mechanisms controlling the phenotype of cells in general.