Developmental Studies in Porphyra (Bangiophyceae). Ii. Characterizatio of the Major Lectin Binding Glycoproteins in Differentiated Regions of the Porphyra Perforata Thallus1

Detergent soluble extracts of differentiated regions of the Porphyra perforata J. Ag. thallus (holdfast, rhizoidal, vegetative and reproductive cells) were fractionated on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels. Glycoproteins were identified by their lectin affinity. Extracts from all areas of the thallus contained glycoproteins, but the staining patterns were different for each region with each of the lectins tested: concanavalin A, Ulex europeaus agglutinin, Ricinus communis agglutinin, soybean agglutinin and peanut agglutinin. These data indicate that the morphologically distinct regions of the thallus also differ biochemically. Analysis of the lectin blots revealed the presence of tissue‐specific glycoproteins in the five thallus areas. Such unique glycoproteins could be used as markers of differentiation in this species.