Ectoglycosyltransferase activity in suspensions and monolayers of cultured fibroblasts.

Fibroblasts suspended by a brief exposure to EDTA have the ability to transfer the carbohydrate moiety of exogenous nucleotide-sugars to endogenous acceptors. Monolayers of the same cells do not have this ability. Both suspensions and monolayers can transfer carbohydrate to exogenous glycose acceptors. The cells can glycosylate exogenous desialized, β-glactosidase treated fetuin utilizing either UDP-¹⁴C]-galactose as a direct donor or ³H]-galactose as a precursor to a glycose donor.