Lectin activity and distribution of chicken lactose lectin I in the extracellular matrix of the chick developing kidney |
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Authors: | E Didier P Didier D Bayle M Chevalier |
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Affiliation: | Laboratoire de Biologie Animale, UA CNRS 677, Université de Clermont-Blaise Pascal, Aubière, France. |
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Abstract: | A lectin activity inhibitable by thiodigalactose, N-acetyllactosamine, lactulose, lactose and by an antibody raised against CLL I (chicken-lactose lectin I) has been investigated in the chick embryo developing kidney. At post-induction stages this activity was found in both mesonephros and metanephros. In immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy, the extracellular distribution of CLL I was similar in the mesonephros and the metanephros. The lectin was never found intracellularly; cultured kidney cells did not express any endogenous lectin but were rich in lectin-receptor sites, which led to the hyphothesis that CLL I is not produced in situ but could be adsorbed on renal cells. Potential physiological roles for embryonic lectins are discussed. |
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