Carbohydrate-induced modulation of cell membrane. VIII. Agglutination with mammalian lectin galectin-1 increases osmofragility and membrane fluidity of trypsinized erythrocytes.
Interaction of lectins with cell surface determinants may alter membrane properties. Using trypsinized rabbit erythrocytes as model we tested the capacity of an endogenous lectin in this respect. Galectin-1 is a member of an adhesion/growth-regulatory family known to interact for example with ganglioside GM(1) and also the hydrophobic tail of oncogenic H-Ras. Assays on membrane fluidity and osmofragility detect galectin-1's capacity to increase the parameters. Moreover, it increases susceptibility of erythrocytes to radical damage. These observations indicate the potential of this endogenous lectin to affect membrane properties beyond the immediate interaction with cell surface epitopes.
School of Life Sciences, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Khandwa Road, Indore 452017, India.
Rajesh K
RK
Gupta
Abhay H
AH
Pande
Krishana C
KC
Gulla
Hans-J
HJ
Gabius
Krishnan
K
Hajela
D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006384:Hemagglutination; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D009996:Osmotic Fragility; D011817:Rabbits; D014357:Trypsin / Q000737:chemistry
D002241:Carbohydrates; D037483:Galectin 1; D014357:Trypsin