title: Ultrastructural localization of lectin binding sites in human melanocytes.
abstract: The ultrastructural localization of carbohydrate residues in human melanocytes of normal epidermis and of one compound naevus was studied. The following lectins were used in a post-embedding technique: 1. peanut agglutinin (PNA), which reacts specifically with N-acetylgalactosamine; 2. Concanavalia ensiformis (Con A) indicating alpha-D-glucose and alpha-D-mannose binding sites; 3. Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA I) specific for alpha-L-fucose; 4. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), reacting specifically with N-acetyl-glucosamine and neuraminic acid (sialic acid); and 5. Limax flavus agglutinin (LFA), also specific for sialic acid (Neu5Ac-alpha-2,3-Gal and Neu5Ac-alpha-2,6-Gal). When incubated with WGA, Con A and LFA strong labelling was seen within the cytoplasm and in the plasma membrane of melanocytes, whereas incubations with PNA and UEA I revealed an occasional gold particle only. The determination of the distribution of carbohydrate residues in normal melanocytes is a prerequisite for future studies of abnormal melanocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nau
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schaumburg-Lever
mesh_terms: D010367:Arachis; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000737:chemistry*; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; C042962:Limax flavus agglutinin; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; C036850:Ulex europaeus lectins; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A