Binding of Concanavalin A to Normal and Transformed Cells as Detected by Immunofluorescence

CHANGES in the nature and conformation of the cell membrane have been considered to play a significant role in malignant transformation¹. Transformed cells have been reported to have altered surface properties detectable by the binding of some plant derived lectins leading to agglutination^2–5. It has been suggested that the surface of transformed cells contains exposed sites where these agglutinins interact, whereas normal cells have such sites in a cryptic form^6,7. I now report evidence for the binding of the phytagglutinin concanavalin A (Con A) on the surface of both normal and transformed cells as detectable by immunofluorescence.