Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are the main component of the extracellular matrix in the central nervous system (CNS) and influence neuroplasticity. Although CSPG is considered an inhibitory factor for nerve repair in spinal cord injury, it is unclear whether CSPG influences the pathogenetic mechanisms of neuroimmunological diseases. We induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelit...

Normal and transformed mouse fibroblasts catalyze transfer of sialic acid, galactose, IV-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, glucose, and mannose from nucleotide sugar donors to glycolipids and glycoproteins. The enzyme activity is associated with intact cells. Kinetic parameters and optimal ion concentrations have been determined for the glycosyltransferase activities detected when whole...

Mucins have been implicated in circumventing the defenses of the body against tumorigenesis. A better understanding of the structures of mucins may assist in the development of new therapeutic approaches. Monoclonal antibody Ea6, developed against mucins purified from xenografts of the pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990, was used to identify a new type of pancreatic cancer mucin. The following ...

The cellular distribution and changes of sugar residues during tooth development in embryos of the rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus were investigated by using horseradish peroxidase-conjugated lectins (lectin-HRP). The lectins SBA, ECA, and LTA show no binding to any region of the dental cap and bell stages, whereas BS-1 and UEA-1 bind to dental cells at both stages. Appropriate control studies con...

We used an atomic force microscope (AFM) to produce an image of a mixed layer of group A and O red blood cells with a contrast based only on the measured strength of a specific receptor-ligand pair. The image was obtained by measuring and plotting for each image pixel the adhesion force between the mixed RBC layer and the AFM tip functionalized with Helix pomatia lectin. The high specificity of...

The novel combination of sialidase digestion with simultaneous PNA and DBA binding yielded marked differences on sialoglycoconjugate occurrence and distribution in the mouse submandibular gland acinar cells of the two sexes. Striking differences in the structure of terminal disaccharides within stored secretory sialoglycoconjugates were also found. High content of sialic acid, characterized by ...

We have analysed a gene cluster in the 67 center dot 4-76 center dot 0 min region of the Escherichia coli chromosome, revealed by recent systematic genome sequencing. The genes within this cluster include: (1) five genes encoding homologues of the E. coli mannose permease of the phosphotransferase system (IIB, IIB', IIC, IIC' and IID); (2) genes encoding a putative N-acetylgalactosamine 6-phosp...

Macrophage receptors function in pattern recognition for the induction of innate immunity, in cellular communication to mediate the regulation of adaptive immune responses, and in the clearance of some glycosylated cells or glycoproteins from the circulation. They also function in homeostasis by initiating the engulfment of apoptotic cells. Evidence has suggested that macrophage receptors funct...

Rat submandibular mucin (RSM) was purified by acid precipitation, then alcohol precipitation of the 30000g supernatant of gland homogenate, followed by column chromatography on Sephadex G-200. The mucin, which was eluted in the void volume, had an amino acid profile typical of a salivary mucus glycoprotein with high proportions of threonine, serine and proline (48.8% of total amino acids), and ...

a-N-Acetylgalaetosaminidase, devoid of P-N-acetylhexosaminidase, has been purified 860-fold from the limpet, Patella uulgata. The final preparation gives one protein band on disc gel electrophoresis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-disc gel electrophoresis, and disc gel isoelectrofocusing. By Sephadex G-ZOO filtration, the molecular weight of this enzyme is 200,000 at pH 4.2 and is 45,000 at pH 7.0. The...