Drosophila cell lines as the source of basement membrane components

Drosophila cell lines Kc 167, Schneider (both originated from hemocyte precursor) and Clone 8 (originated from wing disc) secrete large amount of laminin and type IV collagen. In addition to these mammalian equivalents of basement membrane components, they secrete Drosophila specific extracellular matrix proteins such as peroxidasin, glutactin, tiggrin and papilin and unknown polypeptide of 300 kDa. Kc 167 was the best in terms of the productivity and active growth in a serum-free medium (HyQ CCM3). Kc 167 secreted large amount of basement membrane components (1.2 mg from 1 g cells) comparable to that of mouse EHS tumor (6 mg from 1 g tumor). Secreted proteins could be effectively separated by sucrose density sedimentation. Drosophila basement membrane components showed an inhibitory effect to the attachment of bovine aortic endothelial cells to culture dishes.