title: Differential distribution of receptors for two fucose-binding lectins in embryos and adult tissues of the mouse.
abstract: Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I) recognizes the Fuc alpha 1----2 Gal linkage. Receptors for UEA-I were not detected in mouse embryos until the 13th day of embryo-genesis, except for their temporary expression in early trophectoderm cells. In adult mice, UEA-I receptors were detected at various sites, including cells of the digestive tracts, the bronchial epithelium, Hassall's corpuscle of the thymus, and the skin. The fucose-binding protein of Lotus tetragonolobus (FBP) is another lectin that recognizes fucosyl residues. The distribution of FBP receptors was significantly different from that of UEA-I receptors. FBP receptors were first detected in late 8-cell embryos and were expressed in the embryonic ectoderm, visceral endoderm, and trophoblastic giant cells in egg-cylinders. At later stages, the distribution of FBP receptors became restricted to certain parts of the embryo. In the adult, the distribution of FBP receptors was more restricted than that of UEA-I receptors. Particularly in embryos before the 11th day of gestation, the distribution of FBP receptors resembled that of SSEA-1, which is defined by the Gal beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----3) GlcNAc linkage. From the specificity of FBP, we inferred that the disappearance of SSEA-1 and FBP receptors during embryogenesis is not the result of alpha 1----2 fucosylation of the terminal galactosyl residue in the determinant. The fact that the expression of two fucose-related cell-surface markers, i.e., UEA-I receptors and SSEA-1 (or FBP receptors), is developmentally regulated in an entirely different fashion is an excellent example illustrating the precise control of differentiation-dependent alterations in cell-surface carbohydrates.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005643:Fucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009928:Organ Specificity; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011247:Pregnancy; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000032:analysis; D013724:Teratoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; C036850:Ulex europaeus lectins; C027112:fucose-binding lectin; D005643:Fucose