Topographic changes of membrane receptors for wheat germ agglutinin during the cell cycle and their relation to cytolysis

Experiments with synchronous cultures of murine mastocytoma cells indicated that cells incubated with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) responded with cap formation and cytolysis during the mitotic phase only, but not during the G1, S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. The telophase of mitosis was found to be most sensitive to the cytolytic effect of WGA. Addition of the lectin to cells enhanced movement of the lectin-binding sites to the cleavage furrow during the telophase, as demonstrable by the concentration of fluorescent lectin and microvilli in this region. This phenomenon was followed by osmotic lysis of the cells which could be prevented by addition to the medium of dextran of high molecular weight.