Confrontation of developing melanophore bars of dark and white axolotls with endogenous dark-embryo mannose-binding lectin correlates with melanophore bar disruption.
Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins suggested to be important in embryonic cell adhesion/differentiation. Dark and white axolotls contain an endogenous mannose-binding lectin that is especially prevalent during larval melanophore pattern formation (Martha et al., 1990). To determine if this lectin can alter melanophore patterning, lectin extracts have been isolated from Dark embryos by affinity chromatography. The main protein band is 44K on SDS-PAGE. Dark and white embryos at the early chromatophore migration stage have been confronted with Dark lectin or its nonmetabolized inhibitor, 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG). The barred melanophore pattern of both genotypes is disrupted by lectin or 2-DG treatment suggesting that endogenous mannose-binding lectin and its receptor participate in bar formation.
Martha
G N
GN
Department of Oral Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Milos
N C
NC
D000557:Ambystoma / Q000196:embryology*; D000818:Animals; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008358:Mannose / Q000494:pharmacology; D008547:Melanophores / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010858:Pigmentation
D037102:Lectins; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D008358:Mannose