title: Concanavalin A-induced discharge of glycocalyx of raphidophycean flagellates, Chattonella marina and Heterosigma akashiwo.
abstract: Chattonella marina and Heterosigma akashiwo, known as red tide phytoplankton, are naturally wall-less and have quite fragile cell structures. In this study, we found that an equilibrium dialysis technique allowed the study of lectin binding to these flagellates. The results suggested that concanavalin A (Con A) binds to these flagellate cells through the specific carbohydrate moieties on the cell surface. Interestingly, the binding of an excess of Con A on the cell surface caused morphological changes concomitant with discharge of glycocalyx, a polysaccharide-containing common structure on the external cell surface of these flagellates. Fluorescent microscopic observation using FITC-labeled Con A (F-Con A) confirmed that F-Con A molecules are localized on the discharged glycocalyx.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Fisheries, Nagasaki University, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishimatsu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D019276:Glycocalyx / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003208:Concanavalin A; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate