Cell surface mannosyl transferase activity in the liver of embryonic chick. A mannose containing glycolipid as intermediate in glycoprotein synthesis.

Trypsin dissociated intact cells of embryonic chick liver catalyze the transfer of mannose from exogenous GDP-mannose to glycoprotein in vitro. In cells of 8 day old embryos a surface bound mannosyltransferase-system forms several mannose containing isoprenoid-lipids in a primary step. One of these compounds serves as a substrate in the highly specific second step of the overall reaction, the transfer of mannose to glycoprotein. The isoprenoic intermediate has been isolated and its effectivity as substrate for the incorporation of mannose into glycoprotein has been examined.