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Cell Surface Carbohydrates in Tritrichomonas foetus 1
Author(s) -
BENCHIMOL MARLENE,
PEREIRA MIERCIO E. A.,
ELIAS CEZAR A.,
SOUZA WANDERLEY
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1981.tb02861.x
Subject(s) - tritrichomonas foetus , sialic acid , lectin , agglutination (biology) , concanavalin a , limulus , biochemistry , chemistry , wheat germ agglutinin , mannose , galactose , ferritin , biology , fetus , antigen , immunology , pregnancy , paleontology , genetics , in vitro
The cell surface of Tritrichomonas foetus was characterized by using 18 highly purified lectins with specificities for N‐acetyl glucosamine, N‐acetyl galactosamine, galactose, mannose, and sialic acid. The specificity of the lectin‐induced cell agglutination was verified by inhibition of the agglutination with the specific sugars. By using cytochemical techniques associated with electron microscopy, carbohydrates were detected on the cell surface of T. foetus. The following techniques were used: periodic acid‐thiosemicarbazide‐silver proteinate, concanavalin A‐horseradish peroxidase, and ruthenium red. Anionic sites were detected on the cell surface of the protozoan at pH's 1.8 and 7.2 with the use of colloidal iron hydroxide and cationized ferritin particles, respectively. The binding of colloidal iron particles, as well as the agglutination induced by the lectin from Limulus polyphemus , indicated the presence of sialic acid on the cell surface of T. foetus.