Lectin-binding sites are found in rat liver cell plasma membrane only on its extracellular surface.

In the present study ultrastructural localization of binding sites for 5 lectins was studied in rat liver cell surface membrane fractions. For this purpose ferritin-coupled Concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin, soybean agglutinin, Ricinus communis agglutinin 120 and Lotus tetragonolobus agglutinin I were used as probes for mannose, N-acetyl glucosamine, N-acetyl galactosamine, galactose and fucose moieties in glycoproteins and glycolipids. Although recent reports suggest presence of glycogroups on the cytoplasmic surface of cellular membranes ultrastructural identification of membrane surfaces in the present study indicated an asymmetric localization of lectin-binding sites exclusively on the extracellular side of the membranes.