Biomaterial Database

Role of concanavalin A as an endocytic modulator in Chinese hamster ovary cells. 1981

B Storrie, and K M Maurey

The effect of the lectin, concanavalin A (Con A), on pinocytic uptake and pinosome-lysosome fusion in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, a fibroblast line, was investigated. The glycosylated protein, horseradish peroxidase (HRPase), and the non-glycosylated protein, 125I-labelled bovine serum albumin ([125I]BSA), was used as endocytic tracers. Con A at high concentrations (greater than or equal to 50 micrograms/ml) promoted the uptake of HRPase and inhibited the degradation of ingested HRPase. Con A inhibited the degradation of HRPase whether the two were added simultaneously or at different times to the cultures. Fusion of HRPase-positive pinosomes with secondary lysosomes was observed by electron microscopy in Con A-treated CHO cells. Con A at 200 micrograms/ml had no effect on either the uptake or degradation of [125I]BSA. Together these observations strongly suggest that the effects of high Con A concentrations on the uptake and degradation of HRPase are a consequence of direct complex formation between lectin and glycoprotein. Con A does not appear to have a general modulating effect on the dynamics of endocytic membrane in CHO cells.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008247	Lysosomes	A class of morphologically heterogeneous cytoplasmic particles in animal and plant tissues characterized by their content of hydrolytic enzymes and the structure-linked latency of these enzymes. The intracellular functions of lysosomes depend on their lytic potential. The single unit membrane of the lysosome acts as a barrier between the enzymes enclosed in the lysosome and the external substrate. The activity of the enzymes contained in lysosomes is limited or nil unless the vesicle in which they are enclosed is ruptured or undergoes MEMBRANE FUSION. (From Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed).	Autolysosome,Autolysosomes,Lysosome
D010053	Ovary	The reproductive organ (GONADS) in female animals. In vertebrates, the ovary contains two functional parts: the OVARIAN FOLLICLE for the production of female germ cells (OOGENESIS); and the endocrine cells (GRANULOSA CELLS; THECA CELLS; and LUTEAL CELLS) for the production of ESTROGENS and PROGESTERONE.	Ovaries
D010873	Pinocytosis	The engulfing of liquids by cells by a process of invagination and closure of the cell membrane to form fluid-filled vacuoles.	Pinocytoses
D002459	Cell Fusion	Fusion of somatic cells in vitro or in vivo, which results in somatic cell hybridization.	Cell Fusions,Fusion, Cell,Fusions, Cell
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D003208	Concanavalin A	A MANNOSE/GLUCOSE binding lectin isolated from the jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis). It is a potent mitogen used to stimulate cell proliferation in lymphocytes, primarily T-lymphocyte, cultures.
D003412	Cricetulus	A genus of the family Muridae consisting of eleven species. C. migratorius, the grey or Armenian hamster, and C. griseus, the Chinese hamster, are the two species used in biomedical research.	Hamsters, Armenian,Hamsters, Chinese,Hamsters, Grey,Armenian Hamster,Armenian Hamsters,Chinese Hamster,Chinese Hamsters,Grey Hamster,Grey Hamsters,Hamster, Armenian,Hamster, Chinese,Hamster, Grey
D005260	Female		Females
D005347	Fibroblasts	Connective tissue cells which secrete an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and other macromolecules.	Fibroblast