Distribution and nature of saccharides of plasma membranes of rat ascites hepatoma cells as detected by ferritin-conjugated lectins and dialysed iron

Electron microscopic cytochemical studies were made on saccharides involved in the plasma membranes of rat ascites hepatoma cells (AH7974F) using ferritin-conjugated lectins and dialysed iron (DI). In the rat hepatoma cells, saccharide receptors for each of the three lectins used (concanavalin A (ConA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA)) were shown to be distributed homogeneously throughout the plasma membranes. When the cells were agglutinated, however, the saccharide receptors for each lectin appeared to form clusters on the plasma membranes. The cluster formation induced by one lectin was found to lead to a changed distribution of saccharide receptors for another lectin. None of the cluster formation types induced by lectins yield any noticeable effects upon the distribution of DI reactive acidic saccharides on the plasma membranes.