Electron microscopic demonstration of cell surface carbohydrates by means of peroxidase and ferritin complexes of the Lens culinaris lection.

The use of Lens culinaris lectin for electron microscopic detection of D-mannose,- D-glucose and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine like sites on tumor cells, erythrocytes, erythrocyte ghosts, cultured rat liver cells and various tissues of mice is demonstrated. In addition to Lens culinaris lectin-peroxidase reaction (LeL-po reaction) the preparation of active Lens culinaris lectin-ferritin conjugate are described and the specificity of cytochemical reactions are demonstrated. Furthermore experiments by immuno freeze-etching are reported for topological analysis of the lectin receptors.