Intermolecular interaction between glycolipids and glycophorin on liposomal membranes

The haptenic activity of Forssman glycolipid was affected by glycophorin, and the interaction of glycophorin with lectins was also affected by the glycolipids, when both glycophorin and Forssman glycolipid or globoside were incorporated into the same phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Glycophorin incorporated into phospholipid membranes could interact with lectins, whereas that in glyceroglycolipid membranes could not. These findings suggest that glycophorin and glycolipids may interact, affecting the conformation of their sugar residues, probably through a carbohydrate-carbohydrate interaction. Such an interaction may cause suppression or stimulation of the reactivity of glycoconjugates with lectins or antibodies. Lactosylceramide showed only a slight effect on the interaction between glycophorin and lectins. We suggest that the structure of the sugar residues as well as the lateral distribution of molecules was important for the intermolecular interaction.