Glycolipid-lectin interactions: detection by direct binding of 125I-lectins to thin layer chromatograms

Glycolipids that bind 125I-labeled lectins are detected by autoradiography after thin layer chromatography of glycolipid standards or crude lipid extracts. Soybean agglutinin, Bandeiraea simplicifolia I isolectins A4 and B4, and Helix pomatia lectin are used to detect corresponding cell surface, glycolipid receptors in human and bovine erythrocytes. When lipid extracts from A and AB erythrocyte stroma are analyzed with Helix pomatia lectin, a polymorphic expression of blood group A glycolipid determinants is detected. The Bandeiraea simplicifolia isolectins react weakly with human erythrocyte glycolipids but bind at least 4 glycolipids in bovine stroma extracts. Soybean agglutinin reacts with glycolipids in all erythrocytes analyzed. This technique extends lectin specificity studies from inhibition analyses in aqueous systems using available, known structures to identification of specific, lectin-binding glycolipids in crude lipid extracts of cell membranes.