TUMOR-CELL SURFACE BETA-1-6 BRANCHED OLIGOSACCHARIDES AND LUNG METASTASIS

NIH3T3 cells transfected with an activated Ha-ras oncogene were treate d with L-PHA, the leukoagglutinin from red kidney beans. Cell lines re sistant to L-PHA-mediated cytotoxicity were isolated and found to cont ain reduced levels of L-PHA-binding oligosaccharides. The levels of N- acetylglucosaminyltransferase V, the enzyme responsible for the initia tion of the beta 1-6 branch, were reduced in L-PHA-resistant cells. Tu morigenicity in nude mice was unchanged by the change in oligosacchari de expression, but the ability to form lung tumors after intravenous i njection was significantly reduced. These results demonstrate that the ability of NIH3T3 cells transfected with an activated Ha-ras oncogene to form lung tumors after intravenous injection into nude mice is red uced in all six L-PHA selected cell lines containing a reduction in be ta 1-6 branched Asn-linked oligosaccharides.