Involvement of endogenous galactoside-binding lectin of Xenopus laevis in pattern formation of Xenopus neurites in vitro.

Galactoside-binding lectin has been purified from Xenopus laevis embryos at the stage of neural crest migration. Addition of this lectin to neurite cultures correlates with the appearance of fascicles of greater diameter and shorter length compared with controls. Lectin-treated neurites are also more spread out on the substratum than their controls. The potent hapten inhibitor of the endogenous lectin, thiodigalactoside (TDG), was also added to these cultures. TDG-treated neurites are less well spread out than the controls; fascicle diameters and lengths are not altered. These results suggest that galactoside-bearing receptors and endogenous galactoside-binding lectin are present in these neurites and can participate in controlling neuronal morphogenesis in vitro, although to differing extents.