The glycoprotein-bound large carbohydrates from embryonal carcinoma cells carry receptors for several lectins recognizing N-acetylgalactosamine and galactose.

When various lectins were mixed with radioactively labeled embryoglycan (polylactosamine-type glycoprotein-bound carbohydrates from early embryonic cells) isolated from F9 embryonal carcinoma cells and the resulting complex was precipitated with ammonium sulfate, the glycan was found to react with the following lectins: Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), Sophora japonica agglutinin (SJA), and Ricinus communis agglutinin-1 (RCA-1). Furthermore, affinity chromatography on lectin-agarose revealed that receptors for Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-I (GS-I) were also carried by the glycan. Together with the previous finding that the glycan carries receptors for Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) and peanut agglutinin (PNA), the present result established that the glycan has receptors for a variety of lectins recognizing N-acetylgalactosamine and/or galactose in teratocarcinoma cells. Intact molecules carrying GS-1 receptors and SJA receptors were isolated from F9 cells and teratocarcinoma OTT6050 and were shown to be high-molecular weight glycoproteins similar to DBA receptors isolated from the same sources.