Simultaneous detection of endogenous lectins and their binding capacity atthe single-cell level - a technical note

Endogenous lectins are proteins/glycoproteins which selectively recognize d istinct saccharide ligands and are different from immunoglobulins and carbo hydrate-utilizing enzymes. Expression of these molecules can be detected im munohistochemically using nonblocking monoclonal antibodies (A1D6: anti-gal ectin-3, MR-15-2-2: anti-175 kD mannose receptor). Alternatively, biotinyla ted (neo)glycoconjugates which are recognized by a studied lectin can be em ployed as convenient probes to demonstrate specific binding of sugar epitop es by carbohydrate recognition domains (CRD) of endogenous lectins. In this study, we describe a new procedure for immunocytochemical visualization of the expression of endogenous lectins and glycochemical visualization of th e reactivity of carbohydrate recognition domain(s), performed simultaneousl y at the single-cell level.