Fluoresceinated lectins as probe for cell surface changes associated with lymphocyte transformation.

Lectins are plant-derived proteins with specific affinities for simple or complex sugars and are potentially useful tools for investigation of the carbohydrate structure of the cell surface. A panel of fluoresceinated lectins was used to study the cell surface changes associated with lymphocyte transformation. The major determinants detected on peripheral blood lymphocytes were alpha D-mannose, beta-D-galactose and N-acetyl-glucosamine. Phytohemagglutinin transformation was associated with increased binding of lectins specific for N-acetyl-galactosamine, MOLT-4, a T-lymphoblast cell line in continuous culture, was associated with increased binding of lectins specific for N-acetyl-galactosamine and L-fucose. Application of fluoresceinated lectins may be a useful tool in the classification of lymphoid cells.