Lymphocyte interactions with high endothelial venules (HEV) are important to the in vivo migration of normal and neoplastic lymphocyte populations. We have previously described an 85- to 95-kDa lymphocyte surface glycoprotein(s) defined by mAb Hermes-1, that is involved in the recognition of HEV by human lymphocytes: antibodies against distinct epitopes of the Hermes-1 Ag differentially inhibit lymphocyte binding to lymph node, mucosal, or synovial HEV. Here we characterize further the Hermes-1-defined glycoproteins. No well defined differences were observed between the Hermes-1 Ag immunoprecipitated from PBL and from mucosa- vs lymph HEV-specific cell lines. The Ag is an acidic (isoelectric point = 4.2) sulfated molecule bearing both O-linked and (3,4) N-linked oligosaccharide side chains. A subset of the Hermes-1-immunoprecipitated species is modified by covalent linkage to chondroitin sulfate, yielding a Mr of approximately 180 to 200 kDa. Pulse-chase labeling reveals a major precursor of 76 kDa that appears to be processed either to the 85- to 95-kDa form or, by addition of chondroitin sulfate, to a 180- to 200-kDa form. The potential role of these structural modifications, and particularly of chondroitin sulfate, in the function of the putative adhesion molecules is discussed.