Target cell surface glycoconjugates and neural induction in an amphibian

Abstract

The possible involvement of target membrane specific receptor(s) in the transmission of the neural signal leading to activation of the intracellular machinery involved in the process of neural determination, has been examined using lectin probes (Con A, succinylated-ConA, LcA, PsA and SB A). Not only Con A binding sites but many different glycoconjugated molecules (α-D-galactose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, α-D-fucose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, etc.) would have to be involved, if neural receptor(s) are invoked to explain initiation of neural induction. We show here that the close involvement of such receptor molecules in neural induction is so far hypothetical and remains to be demonstrated. Moreover we are inclined to the view of Barth and others who suggested that ionic fluxes and physicochemical and electrophysiological properties of the target membrane could play a crucial role in neural induction.