how cells adhere to the surface of tissue culture flaask? - basic question (Mar/11/2008 )

Hi,

I am sorry this is a very basic question but I searched for it and dint find satisfactory answer. how do animal cells attach to the surface of tissue culture flask? I read somewhere that these flasks are negatively charged and cells attach to them only when they have this charge. But as cells secrete extracellular matrix first and this matrix attach to the surface, my question is, when the ECM itself is negative, how can it attach to a negative surface? or my information is completely wrong? I don't know.... please help me, and make me correct

Thanks

The cell culture flasks are coated (with poly lysine) so that they have a positive charge. Now cells would have a negative charge, thereby the attraction. Also cells secrete ECM, so better adhesion to the surface.

In addition to charge-charge interactions in coated plates, cell surface integrin receptors and other surface proteins that interact with ECM also facilitate this process. One well know peptide epitope called RGD seems to be a widely used peptide sequence to make otherwise non-adhesive surface suitable for cell growth.

Hi,

I am sorry this is a very basic question but I searched for it and dint find satisfactory answer. how do animal cells attach to the surface of tissue culture flask? I read somewhere that these flasks are negatively charged and cells attach to them only when they have this charge. But as cells secrete extracellular matrix first and this matrix attach to the surface, my question is, when the ECM itself is negative, how can it attach to a negative surface? or my information is completely wrong? I don't know.... please help me, and make me correct

Thanks