INTERNAL LECTIN-BINDING PATTERNS IN THE NEMATODES CAENORHABDITIS-ELEGANS, PANAGROLAIMUS-SUPERBUS AND ACROBELOIDES-MAXIMUS

Using ten different lectins, the binding patterns were studied in thre e free-living rhabditid nematodes : Caenorhabditis elegans, Panagrolai mus superbus, and Acrobeloides maximus. Although all the nematode tiss ues showed binding by one or more of the lectins used, considerable di fferences were noticed between the three nematode species. Yolk, four of the coelomocytes, and the oocytes bind most often with the lectins used. Although the intestinal brush border interacts with a lot of for eign materials, it stained only with few lectins. The lectin binding p attern of the yolk indicated that, at the time of incorporation of the yolk in embryos or shortly thereafter, a processing of the yolk occur s resulting in changes in lectin-binding characteristics of the yolk p rotein.