Direct fluorescence localization of an endogenous N-acetyl-glucosamine-specific lectin in the thyroid gland.

A sugar-binding protein, or endogenous lectin, was localized on fixed and paraffin-embedded thyroid sections by means of fluorescein-labelled neoglycoproteins. Fluorescence microscopy showed the binding of this lectin to be dependent on calcium ions and acidic pH and indicated sugar specificity for GlcNAc moieties only. In human, porcine and murine thyrocytes, specific binding was observed mainly on subcellular organelles. Conversely, in rabbit thyrocytes, specific labelling was seen mostly at the apical cell surface facing the follicular lumen. The possibility that this novel endogenous lectin is involved in the Tg metabolism is considered.