Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1975 Aug;66(2):263-74.
doi: 10.1083/jcb.66.2.263.

Ultrastructural localization of lectin-binding sites on the zonae pellucidae and plasma membranes of mammalian eggs

G L Nicolson, R Yanagimachi, H Yanagimachi

Ultrastructural localization of lectin-binding sites on the zonae pellucidae and plasma membranes of mammalian eggs

G L Nicolson et al. J Cell Biol. 1975 Aug.

Abstract

Receptors for Ricinus communis agglutinin I (RCAI), concanavalin A (Con A), and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) were localized on the zonae pellucidae and plasma membranes of hamster, mouse, and rat eggs with ferritin-lectin conjugates. Intact eggs labeled with the ferritin conjugates showed dense concentrations of RCAI and WGA receptors in the outermost regions of their zonae pellucidae and sparse distributions of Con A receptors throughout the zonae. Ferritin-lectin labeling was specific, since inhibitory saccharides effectively blocked labeling. The asymmetric density of RCAI receptors across the zona was confirmed by ferritin-RCAI and fluorescein-RCAI labeling of mechanically isolated zonae pellucidae, indicating that the RCAI-binding sites are more densely distributed in the exterior zona regions. Plasma membranes of rodent eggs contained RCAI, WGA, and Con A receptors. These receptors were found to be more or less randomly distributed on surfaces of aldehyde-fixed eggs or on eggs labeled near 0 degrees C. However, eggs incubated at 25 degrees C showed aggregated WGA- and Con A-binding site distributions on their plasma membranes. This indicates that lectin-induced receptor redistribution occurs at this temperature. The possibility that plasma membrane receptor mobility is a requirement for sperm-egg fusion is discussed.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Biochemistry. 1975 Jan 14;14(1):172-9 - PubMed
    1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1971 May;68(5):942-5 - PubMed
    1. Nat New Biol. 1973 Jun 13;243(128):218-20 - PubMed
    1. Nat New Biol. 1973 Aug 29;244(139):275-8 - PubMed
    1. J Cell Biol. 1974 Jan;60(1):236-48 - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms