Characterization of carbohydrates in the α2-macroglobulin receptor

Abstract
Carbohydrates were characterized in the human placental α2-macroglobulin receptor and its associated protein. Carbohydrates, largely N-linked, contributed to about 18% of the size of the receptor α-chain and to about 25% of the β-chain. The 40 kDa receptor-associated Protein also contained carbohydrate. The α- and β-chains contained a wide variety of carbohydrates as judged by binding of lectins. Monosaceharide-competing inhibition of α2M-methylamine binding by WGA suggested a functional significance of sugars in binding of ligands to the α-chain