LECTIN-BINDING AND UPTAKE AND GLYCOPROTEIN CHARACTERIZATION OF ISOLATED PORCINE AORTIC ENDOTHELIAL AND SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS

Endothelial and smooth muscle cells were isolated from porcine aorta a nd kept in short-term culture. To determine the terminal carbohydate c omposition of the plasma membranes from both cell populations, the cel ls were incubated with a panel of fluorescein-labelled lectins. Both c ell populations shared a number of terminal carbohydrates, but the N-g alactosamine specific lectin Wistaria floribunda agglutinin labelled o nly the endothelial cells. A lectin which selectively labelled smooth muscle cells was not found. Western blot analysis of isolated endothel ial cell membrane glycoproteins indicated that most membrane glycoprot eins are labelled by Wistaria floribunda agglutinin.