title: Labeling membrane glycoproteins or glycolipids with fluorescent wheat germ agglutinin.
abstract: Glycoprotein and glycolipids are found as part of the outer leaflet of cellular plasma membranes. Those glycoproteins or glycolipids that contain sialic acid and N-acetylglucosamine residues can be labeled with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), a plant lectin that exists as a dimer (mwt ~36,000) and is normally cationic. Fluorescently labeled WGA is commercially available with fluorescein, Alexa Fluor, or rhodamine moieties. Fluorescent WGA can also be used to stain the Golgi (the trans-Golgi) in fixed cells. Fluorescently labeled concanavalin A (Con A), which selectively binds to α-mannopyranosyl and α-glucopyranosyl residues, can also be used to label plasma membranes. This protocol describes the labeling of membrane glycoproteins or glycolipids with fluorescent WGA.
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chazotte
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006017:Glycolipids; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins