Lectins inhibit cell binding and spreading on a laminin substrate.

This study examined the effects on cell binding and spreading of the exposure of laminin substrates to the lectins Wheat Germ Agglutinin or Concanavalin A. Exposure of laminin to Wheat Germ Agglutinin inhibited binding of mouse B16 F1 melanoma cells in a dose dependent manner. Exposure to Concanavalin A had no deleterious effects on binding but did inhibit cell spreading. Both effects were completely prevented by the specific sugars for each lectin. These effects may be due to the proximity of N-linked oligosaccharides to the known cell binding sites of laminin.