Role of cuticular surface carbohydrates of J52 Larvae of Anguina tritci in Specific Recognition of the host

Different extracts of J2 larvae of Anguina hitici were analyzed to understand the mechanism of location and recognition of the host seedlings. Glycoproteins extracted by dimethylsulfoxide were maximally glycosylated and might represent the surface coat glycopruteins of second stage juvenile (J2) whereas those extracted by sodium dodacylsulfate and deoxycholate (DOC) might be deeply embedded in the cuticle. Surface carbohydrates of J2 with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), concanavalin A (Con A) and antisera to blood group substances showed the presence of sialic acid, N-acetyl glucosamine. The SDS as well as DOC extractable cuticular proteins showed the absence of galactose and N-acetylgalactosomine. It is indicated that J2 of A. tritici lack the ability to glycosylate their proteins with galactose and N-acetyl galactosamine, but they utilize the cuticular sialic acid and N-acetylglucosamine for locating the host containing WGA.