Immunofluorescent lectin binding patterns and glycoprotein co-localization in the developing murine molar tooth

Fluorescein-conjugated lectins were used in conjunction with antibodies to laminin, tenascin and amelogenin to investigate saccharide expression in the developing tooth germ. At the bud stage, peanut agglutinin (PNA) binding demonstrated residues that may be D-galactose-(beta 1----3)DGalNAc, and this staining occurred after the expression of tenascin. Only the cap-stage enamel organ suprabasal cells and the enamel knot stained intensely with Ulex europeus agglutinin-I, but not Lotus tetragonolobus agglutinin, implying the transient presence of blood group H type I oligosaccharides. At the late stages of amelogenesis, enamel synthesis is preceded by en bloc loss of inner enamel basement membrane components. Before this, Bandeiraea (Griffonia) simplicifolia--I (BSL-I) staining was lost from postmitotic ameloblasts, suggesting that a glycosylated species is initially removed. Additionally, PNA was co-localized with amelogenin protein, suggesting that it may express beta-D-galactosyl sequences. These results indicate that the glycosylation patterns of matrix components during odontogenesis may be important as they vary in a manner similar to that of the well-known glycoproteins.