The Effect of N Acetyl D-Galactosamine and Other Sugars on the Mitogenic Activity and Attachment of PHA to Tonsil Cells

The effect of several simple sugars on the mitogenic and binding properties of PHA has been investigated. N acetyl D-galactosamine in concentration of 3-10 mg./ml. inhibited the incorporation of uridine-2-C¹⁴ and thymidine-2-C¹⁴ into the acid precipitable fraction of human tonsil cells stimulated by phytohemagglutinin. No inhibition, or a significantly lesser degree of inhibition was observed with N acetyl D-glucosamine or glucose. The binding of I¹³¹ labeled PHA to cells was decreased by NAGAL or EDTA. The EDTA inhibition, unlike the NAGAL inhibition was overcome by magnesium.