A weaker gelatin-binding affinity and increased glycosylation of amniotic fluid fibronectin than plasma fibronectin.

Human amniotic fluid fibronectin had different carbohydrate moieties from plasma fibronectin. Nearly 90% of glycopeptides released from amniotic fluid fibronectin was not bound by concanavalin A-Sepharose, whereas 75% of glycopeptides from plasma fibronectin was bound. Amniotic fluid fibronectin showed a significantly lower gelatin-binding affinity than plasma fibronectin at 25 degrees C. When the incubation temperature was lowered to 4 degrees C, no significant difference in this activity was found. Cell-attachment promoting activity of the two fibronectins was not significantly different.