scholarly journals Immunogold study on lectin binding in the porcine zona pellucida and granulosa cells

10.4081/846 ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Parillo ◽  
C Dall’Aglio ◽  
A Verini Supplizi ◽  
P Ceccarelli ◽  
AM Gargiulo

An ultrastructural localization of lectin receptors on the zona pellucida (ZP) of porcine antral oocytes and on the granulosa cells was performed using a panel of horseradish peroxidase- labelled lectins in conjunction with antiperoxidase antibody and protein A-gold. In some cases, lectin incubation was preceded by sialidase digestion. WGA-, Con-A-, UEA-I-, RCA-I-, PNA- and SBA-reactive sites were distributed differently in the porcine ZP. Sialidase digestion increased the positivity obtained with RCA-I and it was necessary to promote PNA and SBA reactivity. These results indicated that the ZP contained N-acetylglucosamine, a-mannose, a- fucose, b-Gal-(1-4)GlcNAc, b-Gal- (1-3)GalNAc, b-GalNAc and sialic acid residues. We also observed the presence of vesicles in both the ooplasm and granulosa cells, showing a similar lectin binding pattern to that of the ZP, thus suggesting that the oocyte and granulosa cells are the site of synthesis of ZP glucidic determinants.

1975 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
G L Nicolson ◽  
R Yanagimachi ◽  
H Yanagimachi

Receptors for Ricinus communis agglutinin I (RCAI), concanavalin A (Con A), and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) were localized on the zonae pellucidae and plasma membranes of hamster, mouse, and rat eggs with ferritin-lectin conjugates. Intact eggs labeled with the ferritin conjugates showed dense concentrations of RCAI and WGA receptors in the outermost regions of their zonae pellucidae and sparse distributions of Con A receptors throughout the zonae. Ferritin-lectin labeling was specific, since inhibitory saccharides effectively blocked labeling. The asymmetric density of RCAI receptors across the zona was confirmed by ferritin-RCAI and fluorescein-RCAI labeling of mechanically isolated zonae pellucidae, indicating that the RCAI-binding sites are more densely distributed in the exterior zona regions. Plasma membranes of rodent eggs contained RCAI, WGA, and Con A receptors. These receptors were found to be more or less randomly distributed on surfaces of aldehyde-fixed eggs or on eggs labeled near 0 degrees C. However, eggs incubated at 25 degrees C showed aggregated WGA- and Con A-binding site distributions on their plasma membranes. This indicates that lectin-induced receptor redistribution occurs at this temperature. The possibility that plasma membrane receptor mobility is a requirement for sperm-egg fusion is discussed.


1977 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 950-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
GL Nicolson ◽  
N Usui ◽  
R Yanagimachi ◽  
H Yanagimachi ◽  
Smith JR

Modifications in rabbit sperm plasma membranes during epididymal passage and after ejaculation were investigated by used of three lectins: concanavalin A (Con A); Ricinus communis I (RCA(I)); and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). During sperm passage from caput to cauda epididymis, agglutination by WGA drastically decreased, and agglutination by RCA(I) slightly decreased, although agglutination by Con A remained approximately unchanged. After ejaculation, spermatozoa were agglutinated to a similar degree or slightly less by Con A, WGA, and RCA(I), compared to cauda epididymal spermatozoa. Ultrastructural examination of sperm lectin-binding sites with ferritin- lectin conjugates revealed differences in the densities of lectin receptors in various sperm regions, and changes in the same regions during epididymal passage and after ejaculation. Ferritin-RCA(I) showed abrupt changes in lectin site densities between acrosomal and postacrosomal regions of sperm heads. The relative amounts of ferritin-RCA(I) bound to heads of caput epididymal or ejaculated spermatozoa. Tail regions were labeled by ferritin RCA(I) almost equally on caput and cauda epididymal spermatozoa, but the middle-piece region of ejaculated spermatozoa was slightly more densely labeled than the principal-piece region, and these two regions on ejaculated spermatozoa were labeled less than on caput and cuada epididymal spermatozoa. Ferritin-WGA densely labeled the acrosomal region of caput epididymal spermatozoa, although labeling of cauda epidiymal spermatozoa was relatively sparse except in the apical area of the acrosomal region. Ejaculated spermatozoa bound only a few molecules of ferritin-WGA, even at the highest conjugate concentrations used. Caput epididymal, but not cauda epididymal or ejaculated spermatozoa, bound ferritin-WGA in the tail regions. Dramatic differences in labeling densities during epididymal passage and after ejaculation were not found with ferritin-Con A.


1982 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
J.A. Bee

The cell body, neurite and growth cone of isolated retinal neurons have been compared on the basis of their ability to bind a number of fluorescently labelled lectins, each possessing a unique carbohydrate specificity. The susceptibility of the respective binding patterns following pretreatment of these fixed cells with either neuraminidase or trypsin was also investigated. Neuronal cell bodies displayed the most intense binding of each lectin, with localization of limulin binding (specific for sialic acid) predominantly to the neurite hillock, the point on the cell body from which the neurite projects. Limulin binding was almost totally abolished by pretreatment with either neuraminidase or trypsin. In contrast to the cell body, limulin binding to the neurite or growth cone was not detected. These regions of the cell apparently possessed sialic acid, however, since pretreatment with neuraminidase reduced wheat germ agglutinin binding (to N-acetylglucosamine) and markedly enhanced Dolichos biflorus agglutinin binding (to N-acetylgalactosamine) to both the neurite and growth cone. The initially low binding of Dolichos biflorus agglutinin to the neurite and growth cone was slightly enhanced by pretreatment with trypsin. Uniformly low levels of binding of either Ricinus communis agglutinin 60 (galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine) or R. communis agglutinin 120 (galactose) was observed over the entire neuron. R. communis agglutinin 120 binding was not enhanced by pretreatment with neuraminidase. Receptors for either concanavalin A (mannose, glucose) or Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (fucose) were abundant over the entire nerve cell with the former exhibiting more marked trypsin sensitivity. From these data, it is apparent that the repertoire of lectin binding sites of the neurite and growth cone of these differentiating nerve cells differs markedly from that of the cell body, which itself demonstrates some degree of regionalization.


2001 ◽  
pp. 409-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
MC Ferrari ◽  
R Parini ◽  
MD Di Rocco ◽  
G Radetti ◽  
P Beck-Peccoz ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: The congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) are progressive multisystemic disorders characterized by a heterogeneous deficiency of the carbohydrate moieties in various structural and circulating glycoproteins, representing a natural model for glycoprotein hormone studies. Here, we studied the carbohydrate moiety of circulating glycoprotein hormones in four patients with a clinical suspicion of CDGs. METHODS: The diagnosis of CDG-I was confirmed in two out of the four cases by transferrin isoelectrofocusing (IEF) and/or carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) test. The carbohydrate moiety of serum endocrine-related glycoproteins was investigated by means of Ricin (immunopurified thyrotropin (TSH)) and Concanavalin A (Con-A) (TSH, follicle-stimulating hormone, alpha-subunit and thyroglobulin) lectin affinity chromatography measurement. RESULTS: CDT concentrations were very high in the two patients with CDG-I and moderately enhanced in the remaining two. In the two CDG-I patients, Ricin analysis of immunopurified TSH showed a severe impairment of lectin binding, both before and after neuroaminidase treatment, indicating a nearly complete lack of terminal sialic acid and galactose residues. In these two cases, Con-A analysis showed a significant prevalence of firmly bound isoforms with poorly processed carbohydrate chains. In the remaining two cases with unknown CDG classification, TSH binding pattern to Ricin was modestly affected and Con-A analysis showed the prevalence of weakly bound glycoprotein isoforms. CONCLUSIONS: The results of Ricin analyses in all four patients were consistent with the CDT test and/or serum transferrin IEF. The severe alteration of TSH binding pattern to Ricin seems to be characteristic of CDG-I. Nevertheless, TSH biological properties are not severely altered, as normal thyroid function was found in both cases.


Author(s):  
Manuel Avilés ◽  
Louay Jaber ◽  
Maria Teresa Castells ◽  
Frederick K.W. Kan ◽  
José Ballesta

1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
A W Vorbrodt ◽  
D H Dobrogowska ◽  
A S Lossinsky ◽  
H M Wisniewski

Lectin- or glycoprotein-colloidal gold complexes were used for detection of specific monosaccharide residues in mouse brain micro-blood vessels (MBVs). The lectins tested recognize the following residues: beta-D-galactosyl (Ricinus communis agglutinin-120, RCA-1), alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyl (Helix pomatia agglutinin, HPA), alpha-D-mannosyl and alpha-D-glucosyl (Concanavalin A, Con A), sialoglycoconjugates (Limax flavus agglutinin, LFA), N-acetylglucosaminyl and sialyl (wheat germ agglutinin, WGA), and alpha-L-fucosyl (Ulex europeus agglutinin, UEA-1). Use of these lectin-gold complexes and ultrathin sections of Lowicryl K4M-embedded tissue makes it possible to gain insights into localization of lectin receptors in the entire cross-section of MBV walls. Receptors for all lectins, except UEA-1, were found on both luminal and abluminal fronts of the endothelial cells (ECs). Differential labeling of luminal and abluminal fronts of ECs with some lectins (Con A, HPL) is considered to reflect the polarity of the endothelium. Some differences noted in the distribution of lectin receptors in the wall of representatives of three types of MBVs (capillaries, arterioles, and venules) are thought to be associated with different functions performed by the above-mentioned segments of the microvasculature in maintenance of the blood-brain barrier.


1975 ◽  
Vol 30 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 785-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Ulrich Weltzien

Abstract The effects of lysolecithin and of 2 synthetic ether-desoxy lysolecithin analogs, containing alkyl residues of 16 or 12 carbon atoms, on the agglutination kinetics of calf and rabbit thymocytes by concanavalin A (Con A) were investigated. Unlike the natural lysolecithin, these synthetic analogs are resistant to metabolism by membrane associated enzymes. It was found that pretreatment of thymocytes with lysolecithin or with the C16-analog leads to slightly increased agglutination rates. The C12-analog, in contrast, significantly inhibits thymocyte agglutination by Con A. More­ over, a comparison of these results with lysophosphatide effects on the agglutinability of erythrocytes of various species revealed that the inhibitory effect of the short-chain phosphatide is rather specific for thymocytes. The finding that long-and short-chain lysophosphatides, which have previously been shown to react as adjuvants or immunosuppressants, respectively, induce adserve alterations in thymocyte membranes indicates that these substances may affect the immune response by changing the membrane properties of immune competent cells. Concerning the nature of these membrane alterations it was shown that lysolecithin did not affect the number of Con A receptors per cell nor the affinity of lectin binding. It is therefore concluded that the lysophosphatide in­ duced alterations of Con A agglutinability can not be caused by an uncovering or covering of lectin-receptors.


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