Immunocytochemical localization of β1-4 galactosyltransferase in endometrial carcinoma cells

We have paid attention to the alteration of glycosyltransferase in carcinoma cells, because it might be related to the malignancy of the cells. In this connection, localization of β1-4 galactosyl transferase (β1-4 Gal T) in human endometrial carcinoma cells was examined immunocytochemically using two kinds of cell lines, each of which showed different degree of differentiation.An antibody was purified from the rabbit antiserum against the synthetic peptide, IFNRLVFRGMSC (W89) of human β1-4 Gal T coupled with KLH (keyhole limpet hemocyanine) by protein A column and peptide-affinity column chromatography. The anti-W89 serum reacts to the C-terminus of human β 1-4 Gal T and to both membrane-bound and soluble forms of the enzyme. Cell line of well differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma (I) and that of poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma (50B) were cultivated respectively in MEM medium containing 15% FCS and 2 mM glutamine for 4 d at 37°C under 5% CO2. The cells were fixed in a mixture of 4% paraformaldehyde and 0.1% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M Soerensen’s phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 4°C for 30 min, washed with PBS, then freezed and thawed. The indirect method of the peroxidase- labeled antibody technique was used for immunocytochemistry of both LM and TEM on the cell lines. The cells were dehydrated in ethanol and embedded in TAAB 812. Ultrathin sections were observed under a TEM, JEM-100S.