Cytochemical and biochemical characterization of galactose-bearing membrane glycoprotiens in differentiating erthroid cells in rabbits

Abstract

Lectins are suitable tools for investigating the glycoconjugate characteristics of metastatic cells. In the present study, we investigated whether there were differences between high metastatic T3 cells and a low metastatic isolate in their reactivities to several lectins specific for galactosyl and sialyl groups. Analysis of reactivity of the two cell lines to wheat germ agglutinin revealed a complex pattern. In fact, T3 cells had high-affinity, neuraminidase-resistant as well as low-affinity, neuraminidase-sensitive receptors. Instead, the low metastatic isolate showed only high-affinity receptors, both neuraminidase-resistant and neuraminidase-sensitive. The two cell lines reacted similarly to galactose-specific lectins. These findings indicate that sialyl groups, rather than galactosyl groups, affect the metastatic behavior of our cell system.