INHIBITION OF MORPHOGENETIC CELL-INTERACTIONS BY 6-DIAZO-5-OXO-NORLEUCINE (DON)

The glutamine analogue 6-diazo-5-oxo-norleucine (DON), known to interfere with the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins, inhibited kidney tubule induction, while the subsequent stages of metabolic activation and oven morphogenesis were unaffected with the same concentrations. Moreover, close cell contacts, previously shown to be of importance in kidney tubule induction, were retained. Thus, carbohydrates, most likely located at the inductor-target interface, seem to be involved in this form of intercellular communication. © 1979.