[Use of ferritin conjugates of a lectin from mistletoe (Viscum album L.) for the electron microscopic localization of cell surface receptors].

Ferritin conjugates of a lectin from mistletoe (Viscum album L.) were used for the electron-microscopic demonstration of carbohydrate receptors on the cell surface of human erythrocytes and murine tumor cells. Human A1 erythrocytes showed only a slight focal binding of ferritin. Cells of the mouse ascites tumor strain L 1210 were labelled very tightly on their surface and incorporate the ferritin by pinocytosis. Furthermore they showed cytotoxic changes in their ultrastructure. In the presence of galactose the labelling on the surface, the incorporation of the conjugate within the cell as well as the cytotoxicity were inhibited.