EXPRESSION OF THE ENDOGENOUS GALACTOSIDE-BINDING LECTIN OF XENOPUS-LAEVIS DURING CRANIAL NEURAL CREST DEVELOPMENT - LECTIN LOCALIZATION IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF MEMBERS OF THE N-CAM AND CADHERIN FAMILIES OF CELL-ADHESION MOLECULES

Cranial neural crest of Xenopus laevis at different stages of developm ent from neurulation to metamorphosis was studied for the expression o f the endogenous galactoside-binding lectin of Xenopus using immunocyt ochemistry. The presence and localization of members of the NCAM and c adherin cell adhesion familes were also investigated. Lectin and the o ther known cell adhesion molecules are expressed throughout developmen t and their localization patterns change coordinately depending on the development stage. All of the molecules colocalize. The results sugge st that all of these molecules, including the lectin, may be involved in cranial development, possibly in cellular adhesion.