Presence of high molecular weight glycans on the surface of germ and embryonic cells of xenopus laevis

Abstract Xenopus laevis male germ cells, fertilized eggs and gastrula cells were labelled with 3 H labelled sodium borohydride reduction after galactose oxidase treatment. After pronase digestion, the bulk of the label is carried by high molecular weight glycans (≥6,000 D). The high molecular weight of these labelled glycans and their susceptibility to degradation by endo-β-galactosidase suggest that they may be related to the polylactosaminoglycans.