Tim,
 
I can't offer any real help, but Christine Schmidt, in Margaret Clayton's
lab here at Monash, has been doing something very similar, looking at
lectin binding to the membrane of Fucus eggs and zygotes.  If I recall
correctly, like you, she has had little success trying to inhibit binding.
The entire lab is away at present (back next week), but if you'd like to
compare notes, I'll get them to contact you directly.  (None of them are on
this confocal list.)
 
Rosemary
 
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   Rosemary White                       __    /
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