Endogenous lectins in normal and dystrophic muscle development

Two endogenous lectin activities, one specific for beta-D-galactose (beta-D-Gal) residues and purified on asialofetuin-Sepharose and the second specific for iduronic acid containing glycosaminoglycans and purified on heparin-Sepharose, have been studied during myogenesis in both normal and dystrophic chickens. The Storrs strain, homozygous for muscular dystrophy, and the dystrophic strain 413 from the University of California at Davis were both used in this study. Strain 412 and local hatchery chickens were used as controls. The lectins derived from all sources appeared to be identical based on physical properties and carbohydrate specificity. Both normal and dystrophic adult chickens possessed similar lectin levels in lung, spleen, kidney, heart, and muscle tissue. No differences were noted in the temporal appearance of the heparin-binding lectin; however, the beta-D-Gal-binding lectin appeared earlier in the Storrs dystrophic strain than it did in the 413, 412, or hatchery embryos.