Receptors to Dolichos biflorus agglutinin. A new cell surface marker common to teratocarcinoma cells and preimplantation mouse embryos.

Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), a lectin specific to N-acetylgalactosamine residue, identifies cell surface markers on teratocarcinoma cells. These receptors are found in very limited types of adult tissues. In the present investigation, mouse embryos collected on day 1 (2-cell) to 3 (early blastocyst) were shown to be stained with FITC-conjugated DBA. Embryos homozygous for tw32 were also positively stained. These results suggest that receptors for DBA on preimplantation embryos include components distinct from Forssman, F9, and SSEA-1 antigens.