• ALGAE
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2009

The conjugation processes of a filamentous freshwater green alga Spirogyra varians were examined using FITC-lectins. Conjugation comprised five steps: 1) aligning with adjacent filaments, 2) formation of conjugation protru-sion (papilla), 3) fusion of the protrusions, 4) formation of conjugation tube,and 5) formation of zygotes. Three lectins, ConA, RCA and UEA, showed considerable labeling during the progression of conjuation. FITC-ConA labeled the surfaces of filaments throughout the whole conjugation processes. FITC-RCA labeling was observed at the conjugation protrusions only after the papilla formation. Strong labeling continued until formationg of zygotes at the contacting area where the conjugation tube developed, but no labeling was detected on the surface of vegetative filaments. The labeling decreased gradually over time and disappeared when zygotes were formed. FITC-UEA showed similar labeling pattern with FITC-RCA except that weak labeling remained after zygote formation. Inhibition experiments using RCA, UEA which are complementary to sugars L-fucose and D-galactose, showed considerable decrease of conjugation (<32% vs. 70% in control). These results suggested that the lectin-carbohydrate recognition system might be involved in the conjugation of spirogyra varians.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2002

Objective: Lectins are cell-agglutinating and sugar specific proteins or glycoproteins of non-immune origin that precipitate glycoconjugates having saccharides of appropriate complementarity. Because of these properties, plant lectins have been used to help characterize the carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins in the zona pellucida (ZP) of several mammalian species including pigs. Treatment of oocytes with various lectins blocks sperm binding to the ZP in various mammalian species. This study was undertaken to examine the distribution of sugar residues in the ZP of pig oocytes matured in vitro and the ability of spermatozoa to bind to ZP and in vitro penetration in oocytes treated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectins. Materials and Methods: The lectins of Banderiaea simplicifolia (BS-II, bind to $\beta$-D-N-acetylglucosamine), Canavalin ensiformis (Con A, bind to $\alpha$-D-Mannose), Lens culinaris (LCA, bind to a-D-Mannose), Ricinus communis (RCA-I, bind to $\beta$-D-Galactose) and Ulex europaeus (UEA-I, bind to $\alpha$-L-Fucose) were examined for spermatozoa penetration, binding capacity to ZP and distribution of lectins. Results: The penetration rates were significantry (p<0.05) higher in control oocytes (63%) than those treated with all lectins, but penetration rates ($40{\sim}49%$) were simililar in group treated with lectins. The incidence of monospermy was similar in oocytes untreated and UEA-I, but it was higher in oocytes treated with BS-II, Con A, RCA-I and LCA. The porcine oocytes cultured for 48 h in TC-199 medium were freed from cumulus cells and treated for 30 min with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled lectins. When examined under fluorescein illumination, higher (p<0.001) proportions of oocytes showed fluorescein of zona pellucida after treatment with Con A (93%), LCA (93%) and RCA-I (100%) than BS-II (37%) and UEA-I (50%). All of the oocytes treated with RCA-I exhibited strong fluorescein in the outer region of the zona pellucida while those treated with LCA exhibited strong fluorescein throughout the zona pellucida. BS-II bounded mainly to the outer region and UEA-I bounded mainly to the inner region of the zona pellucida, with either strong or weak fluorescein. At 120 min after insemination in vitro, fewer spermatozoa were bound to the zona pellucida of the oocytes treated with BS-II, Con-A and RCA-I. Of the lectins, Con A most inhibited sperm binding. Conclusions: These results suggest that $\beta$-D-Galactose residues in the porcine zona pellucida may act as primary sperm receptors and inducers of the sperm acrosome reaction and these sugar residues may be involved in the block to polyspermy.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.167-171
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• 1999

Since toxic Alexandrium catenella and non-toxic A. fraterculus are morphologically similar, they are difficult to discriminate under the light microscope. However, a novel technology, such as fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated lectin probes enables easy and rapid differentiation. Toxic A. catenella bound seven different lectins, whereas the non-toxic A. fratercuzus did not bind Arachis hypogaea (PNA) lectin. In addition, Pseudo-nitrschia species in this study were also difficult to identify to species level with light microscope techniques, but it was possible to classify them using fluorescent lectins. Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata, P. subfraudulenta and P. pungens bound Canavalia ensiformis (ConA), whereas P. subpaclfica did not, and P. pungens also bound Ricinus communis (RCA). These results imply that lectin could be used as a critical tool in the differentiation of P. multistriata, P. subfraudulenta and P. pungens. However, P. subpacifica was not differentiated by the lectins tested. Therefore, it isconcluded that lectin probes are useful for discriminating toxic A. catenella from non-toxic A. fraterculus, and for the identification of some Pseudo-nitzschia species. In addition, this method has a great potential to speed and detection between non-toxic and toxic harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Korean biotoxin monitoring systems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.381-381
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• 2000

Lectin binding assay was conducted on 3 A. tamarense isolates (AT-A, AT-2 and AT-6). Fatty acid composition of all 3 isolates was analyzed, and total carotenoid content and $\beta$-carotene were also determined. AT-A and AT-2 treated with different lectins in this study showed the positive response, whereas potentially toxic AT-6 did not bind DBA lectin, regardless of different growth phase, but conjugated ConA, PNA, RCA, SBA, UEA and WGA. It is possible that DBA is a desirable method for rapid and easy discrimination of highly toxic A. tamarense. AT-A, AT-2 and AT-6 comprised saturated fatty acids (49.0-61.9%), monounsaturated fatty acids (8.0-20.5%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (23.2-30.5%). In particular, 22:6 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid in AT-6 had a high abundance, compared with AT-A and AT-2. However, carotenoid content and $\beta$-carotene were not contributed to discriminate each isolate. Due to variability in biochemical composition at different isolates, possibly DBA and 22:6 (n-3) polyunsaturate fatty acid provide a good information for discrimination of AT-6.