Limulus Polyphemus Agglutinin Research Articles

On the role of D-glucuronic acid in the aggregation of cells from the marine sponge geodia cydonium

The aggregation receptor (AR) from the marine sponge GEODIA CYDONIUM was analyzed with respect to its monosaccharide composition. Three major sugars (D-galactose, D-glucose and D-glucuronic acid) accounted for about 85 % of the total carbohydrate. Negative results with different lectins directed against D-galactosyl, N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyl and N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl groups, respectively, showed that these sugars are serologically unreactive in AR. Positive serological reactions were obtained with CONCANAVALIN A and LIMULUS POLYPHEMUS agglutinin. AR also reacted strongly with the basic polymer poly-L-lysine. Reaggregation experiments performed on the basis of these findings strongly suggest that AR-bound D-glucuronic acid is recognized by an intercellular aggregation factor (AF) during the secondary aggregation of GEODIA cells.