Axonal transport of glycoproteins in regenerating olfactory nerve: enhanced glycopeptide concanavalin A-binding.

The size and concanavalin A-binding characteristics of glycopeptides derived from axonally transported glycoproteins were studied in regenerating garfish olfactory nerve. A regeneration related increase was observed in the proportion of total glycopeptide radioactivity associated with the lower molecular weight, dialyzable fraction. There was also a 3-5 fold increase in the axonal transport of low molecular weight concanavalin. A-binding glycopeptides in regenerating nerve. These results suggest a shift to an enhanced synthesis and axonal transport of glycoproteins containing low molecular weight, concanavalin A-binding carbohydrate chains in regenerating nerve.