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Published on: April 29, 2011
Use of lectins as probes for analyzing embryonic induction
Kenzo Takata1, Kiyoko Yamazaki Yamamoto1, Ruby Ozawa1
1Radioisotope Center, Nagoya University, 464, Nagoya, Japan.
Abstract:
Lectins were used as probes to investigate the mechanism of embryonic induction. Concanavalin (Con A) and gorse agglutinin out of 7 species of lectins tested were found to have strong neural-inducing effect on the presumptive ectoderm of newt gastrulae. Their effects were abolished by the addition of α-methyl-D-mannoside and α-L-fucose, respectively. Succinyl-Con A had a weak inducing activity in comparison to Con A. Autoradiography of3H-Con A-treated explants revealed that Con A bound to the inner surface, but not to the outer surface of ectoderm and was successively incorporated into cytoplasm.3H-Thymidine incorporation was lower in the first half and higher in the second half of the 60 h cultivation period in Con A-treated explants as compared to controls.Con A-Sepharose had a strong inductive effect. This suggests that neural induction is caused through Con A binding to the plasma membrane, but not through incorporation into the cytoplasm of the ectoderm cells.
Insights
Lectins like Concanavalin A (Con A) can induce neural development in early embryos. This neural induction occurs when Con A binds to the ectoderm
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Embryonic induction is a fundamental process in development.
- Lectins are proteins that bind carbohydrates and can be used as biological probes.
- Understanding neural induction mechanisms is crucial for developmental biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism of embryonic neural induction using lectins.
- To identify specific lectins with neural-inducing effects.
- To elucidate the cellular and molecular interactions involved in lectin-mediated induction.
Main Methods:
- Testing seven lectin species for neural-inducing effects on newt gastrulae presumptive ectoderm.
- Utilizing specific sugar inhibitors (α-methyl-D-mannoside, α-L-fucose) to block lectin activity.
- Employing autoradiography with radiolabeled Concanavalin A (Con A) to track its localization.
- Measuring 3H-Thymidine incorporation to assess cellular proliferation.
Main Results:
- Concanavalin A (Con A) and gorse agglutinin demonstrated significant neural-inducing effects.
- The effects of Con A and gorse agglutinin were specifically inhibited by α-methyl-D-mannoside and α-L-fucose, respectively.
- Autoradiography showed Con A binding to the inner ectoderm surface and subsequent cytoplasmic incorporation.
- Succinyl-Con A exhibited weaker inducing activity compared to native Con A.
- Con A-Sepharose displayed a strong inductive effect.
- 3H-Thymidine incorporation patterns differed between Con A-treated and control explants.
Conclusions:
- Neural induction is mediated by Concanavalin A (Con A) binding to the plasma membrane of ectoderm cells.
- Cytoplasmic incorporation of Con A is not the primary mechanism for neural induction.
- Lectins serve as valuable tools for dissecting the molecular mechanisms of embryonic induction.
