The
carbohydrate epitope Gal alpha 1-3Gal-R (
alpha-galactosyl epitope), which is detectable by its binding with Bandeiraea simplicifolia-IB4
lectin, was found in
glycosphingolipids (GSLs), both neutral and acidic (
gangliosides), from lens tissues of non-primate mammals, but not in those of human senile
cataracts and Old World monkeys. Instead, human cataractous and Old World monkey non-cataractous
lenses expressed Lewisx (Le(x))
epitopes (Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc-R) in neutral GSLs. Sialylated Le(x)
epitopes were found in rat and pig
lenses as well as in human and Old World monkey
lenses. Ganglio-series
gangliosides, consisting mainly of GM3, GM1, GD1a and GD3, were detected in a species-specific fashion. On the other hand, alpha-galactosyl
epitopes were expressed in lens tissues only in water-insoluble
proteins of non-primate mammals, but Le(x) and sialylated Le(x)
epitopes were not detectable in
lens proteins. Among the several mammalian
lenses examined, humans and Old World monkeys showed similar GSL compositions, in particular the presence of Le(x) and sialylated Le(x)
epitopes and the absence of alpha-galactosyl
epitopes, in lens tissue.