Cell proliferation and microtissue morphology require fibronectin-collagen binding.

<p>Collagen-adherent FN-null MEFs were treated with PBS (0 FN) or fibronectin (25 or 100 nM) in the absence or presence of R1R2, the control peptide III-11C, or an equal volume of the vehicle, PBS. (A) Following a 6-day incubation, cell number was determined using MTT. Data are presented as fold increase in cell number versus non-treated (+PBS/PBS) controls <u>+</u> SEM of 3 experiments performed in triplicate. *Significant vs. +PBS/PBS, <i>p</i><0.001 (ANOVA). ^#Significant vs. respective +FN/PBS and +/III-11C, <i>p</i><0.001 (ANOVA). (B) Representative phase contrast images collected on days 2 and 6 of culture. Images represent 1 of 3 experiments performed in triplicate. Scale bar, 50 μm.