Prosomes, small cytoplasmic RNP particles, contain glycoproteins.

Prosomes, ubiquitous small ribonucleoprotein complexes, were isolated from the cytoplasm of erythropoietic mouse cells induced by Friend leucemia virus. We present evidence that some of the prosomal proteins are glycosylated. Specific reactions with the biotinylated lectins concanavalin agglutinin (Con A), Solanum tuberosum agglutinin (STA) and Limulus polyphemus agglutinin (LPA) indicate that the carbohydrate moieties contain N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-acetylglucosamine and mannosyl- or glucosyl-residues. Glycosylation of prosomal proteins could explain the resistance of prosomes to proteinase K digestion.