Secretion of a cytoplasmic lectin from Xenopus laevis skin

The skin of Xenopus laevis contains a soluble beta-galactoside-binding lectin with a approximately 16,000-mol-wt subunit. It resembles similar lectins purified from a variety of tissues from other vertebrates, and differs from two other soluble X. laevis lectins from oocytes and serum that bind alpha-galactosides. The skin lectin is concentrated in the cytoplasm of granular gland and mucous gland cells, as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry with the electron microscope. Upon injection with epinephrine, there is massive secretion of the cytoplasmic lectin from the granular gland cells.