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PubMed1990

The gastrulating chick blastoderm contains 16-kDa and 14-kDa galactose-binding lectins possibly associated with an apolipoprotein.

Extracts from chick blastoderms were subjected to affinity chromatography on lactoside-Sepharose. Lactose-eluted fractions were examined by gradient SDS-PAGE with silver staining, as well as by immunoblot analysis using antibodies to the chicken galactose-binding lectins of 14 kDa and 16 kDa and to an apolipoprotein of chicken very low density lipoprotein (Apo-VLDL-II). Fractions containing the highest lectin activity contained four main bands. One, unidentified, comigrated with albumin; two bands were identified by immunoblotting as the 14-kDa and 16-kDa lectins. The fourth band comigrated with Apo-VLDL-II and in immunoblot analysis reacted with antibodies to this apolipoprotein. In our electrophoretic system this protein migrates close to bovine trypsin inhibitor and has an apparent molecular weight of 6500 +/- 500. The present studies establish the identity of this previously described 6.5 kDa protein (Zalik et al. J. Cell. Sci. 88, 483, 1987) as Apo-VLDL-II. While the 16-kDa lectin was present consistently in all the affinity-purified preparations, the relative frequencies of the 14-kDa lectin and Apo-VLDL-II varied. In sections of primitive streak blastoderms, lectin immunofluorescence was present in the lowest, most ventral area of the primitive groove and in the cells emerging laterally from the groove to form the endoderm. Cells of the extraembryonic endoderm also displayed high lectin immunoreactivity. The localization of the lectins is similar to the one described previously for Apo-VLDL-II. Double immunofluorescence staining indicates that Apo-VLDL-II and the lectin(s) colocalize. The copurification and colocalization of Apo-VLDL-II and the lectins in the chick blastoderm suggest that this apolipoprotein may associate with the galactose-binding lectins or may display lectin activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Oligomerisation and carbohydrate binding in an Atlantic salmon serum C-type lectin consistent with non-self recognition.

A C-type lectin was previously isolated from the blood of healthy Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and this salmon serum lectin (SSL) was found to opsonise bacteria. Selective binding to bacteria in vivo requires that the lectin be able to recognise a carbohydrate pattern on the bacterial surface distinguishable from that of the host. In order to investigate this selectivity in the lectin, a phage-display antibody was prepared and then used for detection of lectin by Western blotting. A carbohydrate binding-inhibition assay with Western blot detection of the lectin showed mannose to be the primary ligand and related sugars including glucose, N-acetylglucosamine and methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside to be additional ligands of this lectin. The SSL in serum detected by Western blotting was shown to form a complex oligomer. These results show that the salmon serum lectin is oligomeric in blood and that it recognizes a broad spectrum of carbohydrates with optimal binding to mannose. The lectin might therefore be an ideal opsonin for multiple salmon pathogens with carbohydrate arrays on their surfaces. No similar lectins were identified in the sera of other fish by Western blotting using the phage-display antibody. Molecular analysis will be required in order to determine whether homologous lectins are expressed in related fish species. It is anticipated that similar lectins might have related pathogen recognition roles in divergent fish species.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1991

Lactose-binding lectin expression in human colorectal carcinomas. Relation to tumor progression.

Lactose-binding lectins having Mr values of approximately 14,000 (L-14.5) and approximately 35,000 Da have been found in a variety of vertebrate tissues, including normal intestine and colon, and in several types of tumors such as colon carcinomas. To determine the clinical relevance of such lectins in human colon cancer, specimens from 46 patients with colorectal carcinoma of identified Dukes' stages were selected and analyzed for the presence and amount of lactose-binding lectins by immunoblotting using a polyclonal, rabbit anti-lectin antibody followed by binding of 125I-labeled anti-rabbit IgG. The amount of a lectin having an Mr value of approximately 31,000 Da (L-31) varied among the specimens. The levels of L-31 lectin in colorectal cancer specimens from primary tumors of patients with distant metastases (Dukes' stage D) were significantly higher than were those from patients without detectable metastases (Dukes' stages B1 and B2). In contrast, among the various specimens the variation in the level of the L-14.5 lectin was smaller, and there was no correlation between the amount of this lectin and cancer stage. Immunohistochemical staining of thin sections of colorectal tumor specimens using antibodies specific for either L-31 or L-14.5 lectin revealed that the two were located at different places, the L-31 lectin primarily within the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells, and the L-14.5 lectin associated with secreted material. These results indicated that the relative amount of the L-31 lectin increases as the colorectal cancer progresses to a more malignant stage.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗
PubMed2000

Identification of lectin isoforms in juvenile freshwater prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii (DeMan, 1879).

From the serum of juvenile freshwater prawns, we isolated by affinity chromatography on glutaraldehyde-fixed rat erythrocytes stroma, immobilized in Sephadex G-25, a sialic acid specific lectin of 9.6 kDa per subunit. Comparative analysis against adult organisms purified lectin, by chromatofocusing, showed that the lectin from juvenile specimens is composed by four main isoforms with a pI of 4.2, 4.6, 5.1, and 5.6, whereas the lectin from adults is eluted at pH 4.2. The amino acid composition of the lectin obtained from adult and juvenile stages suggest identity, but the compositions are not identical since a higher content of carbohydrates was found in the lectin from younger organisms. The freshwater prawn lectin showed specificity toward N-acetylated amino sugar residues such as GlcNAc, GalNAc, Neu5Ac and Neu5,9Ac; but in juvenile organisms the lectin showed three times less hemagglutinating activity than the lectin from adults. Both lectins agglutinated rat, rabbit and chicken erythrocytes, indicating that Neu5,9Ac in specific O-glycosydically linked glycans seems to be relevant for the interaction of M. rosenbergii lectins with their specific cellular receptor. Our results suggest that the physicochemical characteristics of the lectin from the freshwater prawn are regulated through maturation.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1981

Studies on the chemical modification and potato (Solanum tuberosum) lectin and its effect on haemagglutinating activity.

1. Modification of potato (Solanum tuberosum) lectin with acetic anhydride blocked 5.1 amino and 2.7 tyrosyl groups per molecule of lectin and decreased the haemagglutinating activity of the lectin. De-O-acetylation regenerated 2.0 of the tyrosyl groups and resulted in a recovery of activity. 2. Modification with citraconic anhydride or cyclohexane-1,2-dione did not greatly affect activity, although modification of amino and arginyl groups could be demonstrated. 3. Treatment with tetranitromethane nitrated 3.7 tyrosine residues per molecule of lectin with concomitant loss of activity. The presence of 0.1m-NN'N''-triacetylchitotriose (a potent inhibitor of the lectin) in the reaction medium protected all the tyrosyl residues from nitration and the lectin was fully active. 4. Modification of tryptophyl groups with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide and 2,3-dioxoindoline-5-sulphonic acid modified 0.9 and 2.6 residues per molecule of lectin respectively with a loss of activity in each case. Reaction of potato lectin with 2,3-dioxoindoline-5-sulphonic acid in the presence of inhibitor protected 2.4 residues of tryptophan from the reagent. Loss of haemagglutination activity was prevented under these conditions. 5. Reaction of carboxy groups, activated with carbodi-imide, with alpha-aminobutyric acid methyl ester led to the incorporation of 5.3 residues of the ester per molecule of lectin. Presence of inhibitor in this case, although protecting activity, did not prevent modification of carboxy groups; in fact an increase in the number of modified residues was seen. This effect could be imitated by performing the reaction in 8m-urea. In both cases the number of carboxy groups modified was close to the total number of free carboxy groups as determined by the method of Hoare & Koshland [(1967) J. Biol. Chem.242, 2447-2453]. Guanidination of lysine residues after carboxy-group modification gave less homoarginine than did the unmodified lectin under the same conditions, suggesting the formation of intramolecular cross-links during carbodi-imide activation. 6. It is suggested from the results presented that amino, arginyl, methionyl, histidyl and carboxyl groups are not involved in the activity of the lectin and that tyrosyl and tryptophyl groups are very closely involved. These findings are similar to those reported for other proteins that bind N-acetylglucosamine oligomers and also fit the general trend in other lectins.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2002

Low serum level of mannan-binding lectin is a determinant for pregnancy outcome in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic background for the previously reported finding of an increased frequency of low levels of mannan-binding lectin in couples with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion and to evaluate the impact of low mannan-binding lectin levels on future pregnancy outcome. STUDY DESIGNS: Mannan-binding lectin levels were measured in 217 women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion and 111 of their husbands and were compared with corresponding measurements in 104 couples with uncomplicated reproductive histories and 210 blood donors. An investigation of the genetic polymorphism, which is largely responsible for serum mannan- binding lectin levels, was done by polymerase chain reaction methods with DNA from a subset of the patients and control subjects. Information was collected about the outcome of the patients' next pregnancies, together with perinatal data concerning the patients' first birth that occurred before or after being assigned to the study. RESULTS: Among women with recurrent spontaneous abortion, 18.9% of the women had mannan-binding lectin levels of </= 100 ng/mL compared with 12.2% of control subjects ( P =.02). An investigation of mannan-binding lectin levels and genetic analyses gave no evidence that paternal mannan- binding lectin deficiency plays a role for recurrent spontaneous abortion. Patients with mannan-binding lectin levels of </=100 ng/mL had a higher abortion rate than patients with normal mannan- binding lectin levels (P <.05). The median birth weight of children who were born at term of women with recurrent spontaneous abortion was 287 g less in women with mannan-binding lectin levels of </= 100 ng/mL than that of patients with normal mannan-binding lectin levels (P =.04). CONCLUSION: Low maternal serum mannan-binding lectin levels exhibit a negative impact on pregnancy outcome in women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1997

In vitro characterization of lectin-induced alterations on the proliferative activity of three human melanoma cell lines.

Lectin binding is known to be able to elicit signalling events relevant for various aspects of cell physiology. The influence of lectin binding on melanoma cells remains relatively unexplored. The aim of our study was to investigate the in vitro effects of five plant lectins, namely peanut (PNA), wheat germ (WGA), concanavalin A (Con-A), Griffonia simplicifolia (GSA-IA4) and Phaseolus vulgaris (PHA-L) agglutinins, on the cell proliferation of melanoma cell lines (SK-MEL-28, HT-144 and C32) cultured in media supplemented with either 10% or 1% fetal calf serum (FCS). Cell proliferation was assessed by means of the tetrazolium derivative reduction (MTT) assay. Four lectin concentrations were tested, namely 0.05, 0.5, 5 and 50 micrograms/ml, in four experimental settings, namely 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after the addition of each lectin to the culture media. Determination of the cell gain compartment (percentage of cells in the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle) was done by means of digital cell image analysis assessed on Feulgen-stained nuclei. Our results demonstrated that of the five lectins under study, four had a globally significant dose-dependent toxic effect on melanoma cell proliferation. The fifth lectin, PNA, had a significant stimulatory effect on the C32 cell line. Low doses of lectins may produce a transient increase in cell proliferation. Increasing the FCS from 1% to 10% in the culture media significantly antagonized lectin-induced toxicity in the three cell lines. The cell kinetics measurements showed that the inhibition of cell growth was merely due to cell death. The present data strongly suggest that some lectins might influence the proliferation of melanoma cells. In addition, because lectins are present in our diet and are able to pass into the systemic circulation, we speculate that lectins may exert an influence on melanoma growth under clinical conditions.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1998

Lectin reactivity and virulence among strains of Listeria monocytogenes determined in vitro using the enterocyte-like cell line Caco-2.

Forty-six cultures of Listeria monocytogenes (including clinical, food and collection strains) were serotyped, characterized for motility, haemolysis and phospholipase activities and tested for lectin agglutination using a four-lectin set. Lectin reactivity (i.e. agglutination by one or more of the four lectins) was observed in all 12 clinical isolates, 16 of the 23 food isolates and eight of the 11 collection strains. Virulence was evaluated in vitro based on strains' ability to invade the human enterocyte-like cell line Caco-2. In gentamicin survival experiments, recovery of viable intracellular bacteria among lectin-unreactive strains was usually 100-1000-fold lower than among lectin-reactive haemolytic strains, and lower than among nonhaemolytic strains. Considerable cytopathogenic effects were produced by lectin-reactive haemolytic strains in trypan-blue-stained cell monolayers, whereas lectin-unreactive and nonhaemolytic strains produced no detectable cytopathogenic effect. Among lectin-reactive strains, the number of listerial cells associated with Caco-2 monolayers was more than tenfold greater than among lectin-unreactive strains. Cell invasion was inhibited by pretreatment of Caco-2 cells with sugars recognized by the lectins or of listeriae with enzymes which removed the same sugars from the bacterial surface. The results suggest that the study of lectin interactions could be helpful in understanding the pathogenicity potential of isolates of food and environmental origin.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1988

Lectins in cancer cells.

Studies carried out over the last few years have demonstrated that tumor cells and malignant tissues contain lectins that are similar in sugar-binding specificity, molecular size, and antigenicity to the lectins found in normal cells and tissues. Lectins from tumor cells also share marked sequence homology with lectins from normal tissues. Lectins were purified from various tumor cells by affinity chromatography and monoclonal and polyclonal antilectin antibodies were prepared against them. These enabled us to establish the following: (1) Lectins are present on the surface of all the tumor cells that were examined, albeit at varying levels. (2) The level of cell surface lectins increases after normal cells are transformed by transfection with certain oncogenes or by retroviruses, or when cells transformed with a temperature-sensitive viral mutant are switched from growth at the nonpermissive to the permissive temperature. (3) Among tumor cells differing in metastatic propensity, those exhibiting a higher potential express higher levels of surface lectins. (4) Tumor cell surface lectins might be involved in cell-cell adhesion, cell attachment to substratum, the expression of the transformed phenotype (anchorage-independent growth), and blood-borne metastasis. (5) The levels of the lectins in tumor cells are modulated by agents that suppress the transformed phenotype (as represented by anchorage-independence) or enhance differentiation. Numerous studies by others have shown that cell surface carbohydrate-containing molecules are modified after transformation, and our findings demonstrate that the expression of cell surface carbohydrate-binding proteins is also altered by transformation. Obviously, any of these changes may result in alterations in cellular interactions. All the above findings implicate tumor cell lectins in cellular interactions (adhesion, attachment, possible binding of exogenous soluble glycoconjugates), cell growth and anchorage-independent growth, malignant transformation, tumor cell differentiation, and metastasis. It is clear that even if these lectins are involved in only a few of these fundamental processes, it is important to elucidate their functions and the mechanisms by which their expression is regulated during neoplastic transformation and tumor progression and the suppression of the transformed phenotype.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2006

Unique posttranslational modifications of chitin-binding lectins of Entamoeba invadens cyst walls.

Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amebic dysentery and liver abscesses, is spread via chitin-walled cysts. The most abundant protein in the cyst wall of Entamoeba invadens, a model for amebic encystation, is a lectin called EiJacob1. EiJacob1 has five tandemly arrayed, six-Cys chitin-binding domains separated by low-complexity Ser- and Thr-rich spacers. E. histolytica also has numerous predicted Jessie lectins and chitinases, which contain a single, N-terminal eight-Cys chitin-binding domain. We hypothesized that E. invadens cyst walls are composed entirely of proteins with six-Cys or eight-Cys chitin-binding domains and that some of these proteins contain sugars. E. invadens genomic sequences predicted seven Jacob lectins, five Jessie lectins, and three chitinases. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed that mRNAs encoding Jacobs, Jessies, and chitinases are increased during E. invadens encystation, while mass spectrometry showed that the cyst wall is composed of an approximately 30:70 mix of Jacob lectins (cross-linking proteins) and Jessie and chitinase lectins (possible enzymes). Three Jacob lectins were cleaved prior to Lys at conserved sites (e.g., TPSVDK) in the Ser- and Thr-rich spacers between chitin-binding domains. A model peptide was cleaved at the same site by papain and E. invadens Cys proteases, suggesting that the latter cleave Jacob lectins in vivo. Some Jacob lectins had O-phosphodiester-linked carbohydrates, which were one to seven hexoses long and had deoxysugars at reducing ends. We concluded that the major protein components of the E. invadens cyst wall all contain chitin-binding domains (chitinases, Jessie lectins, and Jacob lectins) and that the Jacob lectins are differentially modified by site-specific Cys proteases and O-phosphodiester-linked glycans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1981

Lectin, a possible basis for symbiosis between bacteria and sponges.

From the marine sponge Halichondria panicea a lectin was isolated and characterized. The homogeneous lectin (composed of protein to 80.7% and of neutral carbohydrates to 14.1%) had a molecular weight of 78,000 (determined by gel filtration) and consisted of four subunits with a molecular weight of 21,000 each (determined by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate). The hemagglutinating activity was only slightly dependent upon ionic strength and incubation temperature and did not require divalent cations, but it was inhibited by reagents for thiol groups. The Halichondria lectin was completely inhibited in hemagglutination competition experiments in the presence of fetuin, D-galacturonic acid, D-glucuronic acid, polygalacturonic acid, or L-fucose. The purified Halichondria lectin did not cause reaggregation of dissociated H. panicea cells. From the same sponge species bacteria were isolated and identified as Pseudomonas insolita. These bacteria were cultivated in marine broth 2216. Under these culture conditions the bacteria grew only in the presence of the homologous lectin; the lectin-caused effect was not abolished by D-glucuronic acid or D-galacturonic acid. However, after addition of a polysaccharide-containing fraction isolated from P. insolita, the lectin-caused, growth-promoting effect was abolished. Other lectins were found to exhibit no growth-promoting effect. On the basis of colony counts, P. insolita was the predominant bacterial species in the sponge extract; 1.9 X 10(6) Pseudomonas colonies were measured in extracts isolated from 1 g of sponge. The assumption of an interrelationship between the sponge and the bacterium is supported by the results indicating that the Halichondria lectin has no effect on the growth of such bacteria isolated from six other marine sponge species. Evidence is presented which indicates that the Halichondria lectin is not utilized during growth of the Pseudomonas species. Lectin activity was detected on the surface of mucoid cells from H. panicea. From the data obtained the possibility is discussed that the Halichondria lectin is a basis for a symbiotic relationship between the sponge and the bacterium.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Permeability-related changes revealed at endothelial cell borders in inflamed venules by lectin binding.

Plasma leakage in inflammation results from intercellular gaps that form in the endothelium of venules. These gaps and related morphological changes in endothelial cells are not readily seen by light microscopy. In this study we sought to visualize such changes by using the selective binding properties of plant lectins. Acute inflammation was induced in the trachea of pathogen-free F344 rats by injecting substance P intravenously, and 1, 3, or 10 min later the vasculature was perfused with fixative followed by a biotinylated lectin. Lectin binding was localized by avidinbiotin complex-peroxidase histochemistry and viewed in tracheal whole mounts by differential-interference contrast microscopy. The binding patterns of the 20 lectins tested fell into 4 groups. Most of the lectins either bound uniformly to the endothelium of normal and inflamed venules (group 1, e.g., Lycopersicon esculentum lectin) or bound weakly or not at all to venules (group 2, e.g., Maackia amurensis I lectin). The uniform binding of group 1 lectins not only revealed the overall vascular architecture but also made visible intercellular gaps and fingerlike processes at endothelial cell borders in inflamed venules. In postcapillary venules after substance P, the fingerlike processes were present along an average of 32% of the endothelial cell perimeter at 1 min, 25% at 3 min, and 7% at 10 min, compared with a baseline value of 2%. A third group of lectins (group 3, e.g., concanavalin A) bound selectively to focal patches of inflamed venules but bound weakly to normal venules. The fourth group (group 4, e.g., Ricinus communis I lectin) bound preferentially to focal patches in inflamed venules and also bound uniformly to normal venules. The focal binding of group 3 and 4 lectins coincided with sites of plasma leakage marked by extravasation of the particulate tracer monastral blue and was associated with subendothelial components of the vessel wall. We conclude that selected lectins reveal novel features of focal sites of plasma leakage, endothelial gaps, and fingerlike processes at endothelial cell borders in inflamed venules.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Heparin binding lectin of human placenta as a tool for histochemical ligand localization and isolation.

Biotinylated heparin has been used to detect the presence of specific binding sites in sections of human placenta, which has prompted demonstration of expression of lectin activity for this proteoglycan. Purification of this lectin from full-term placenta facilitates the synthesis of its biotinylated derivative, using biotin-amidocaproyl hydrazide, without affecting its activity. It also enables immunization to obtain antibodies. The labeled lectin is shown to bind specifically to nuclear and cytoplasmic locations in various cell types of human placenta, nuclear expression of lectin binding sites being more pronounced at the full-term stage than after 8 weeks of development. The structurally related histone H2B exhibits obvious differences in its binding pattern. The presence of ligands accessible to the lectin whose binding activity can be inhibited by addition of an excess of heparin correlates in most instances with the level of lectin expression detected immunohistochemically. Biochemical information on the nature of the glycohistochemically inferred lectin-specific ligand(s) is obtained by affinity chromatography on resin-immobilized lectin. It leads to isolation of a proteoglycan with similar electrophoretic mobility in agarose-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis relative to the independently purified heparan sulfate-containing fibronectin binding proteoglycan from human placenta. Both fractions inhibit binding of heparin to the lectin and contain immunologically detected co-purified lectin, emphasizing their ligand properties. Application of labeled tissue lectins in conjunction with lectin-specific antibodies is proposed to obtain valuable insights into the expression of the receptor as well as the ligand part of protein-carbohydrate recognition.

Chromatography, Affinity↗
PubMed1989

Patterns of expression of a 15K beta-D-galactoside-specific lectin during early development of the avian embryo.

We have determined, by immunohistochemical and biochemical techniques, the distribution of an endogenous beta-D-galactoside-binding lectin between the early primitive streak stage and the 5th day of embryonic development of the chick. The lectin, which was purified from the pectoral muscle of 16-day-old chick embryos, migrates on SDS-PAGE as a single polypeptide of relative molecular mass 15 x 10(3). Antibodies to this pure lectin interact with the 15K (K = 10(3) M(r)) polypeptide as well as with a 6.5K polypeptide; this second component appears to be antigenically related to the 15K lectin, as antibodies affinity purified on the 15K band recognize both polypeptides. In early stages of development, lectin immunoreactivity was present in most cells of the epiblast and hypoblast in the region of the primitive streak, while towards the edge of the area pellucida the epiblast was stained less intensely. During gastrulation, strong immunoreactivity was present also in migrating cells and in the mesoblast, while at the margin of the area pellucida the epiblast was negative. Up to the 10-somite stage, lectin immunoreactivity was present in the somites, neural tube and presumptive cardiac region; the non-neural ectoderm and the extracellular matrix were not labeled; the predominant immunoreactive component at this stage of development was the 6.5K polypeptide. Later in development, the lectin immunoreactivity gradually disappeared from the dermamyotome and nervous system to reappear conspicuously as soon as a differentiated myotome could be detected. Immunoreactivity was very high in the myotome, skeletal and cardiac muscles and transient in smooth muscles. The only region of the nervous system that continued to express the lectin throughout development was the trigeminal (semilunar) ganglion; in all regions of the nervous system, the lectin immunoreactivity disappeared early in development to be re-expressed only much later. The lining epithelium of the digestive tract and other endodermal derivatives expressed the lectin transiently. In the extraembryonic membranes, immunoreactivity to the lectin was observed in the yolk sac and in both layers of the amnion. The striking regulation of the expression of this endogenous lectin suggests that its functions are linked to cell proliferation and/or to the selective expression of a developmentally-timed cell phenotype.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Purification of lectin from perch (Persa fluviatilis L.) roe specific to cellobiose and study of its characteristics].

Two lectins with different carbohydrate specificity were purified from perch (Persa fluviatilis L.) roe (coastal ecological form) by affinity chromatography on ovariomucine H-sepharose from a human ovary cyst. One lectin was eluted by cellobiose and another lectin was eluted by L-fucose. The L-fucose-specific lectin interacted only with L-fucose and its derivatives, but did not interact with cellobiose and salicin. The cellobiose-specific lectin interacted with all the examined carbohydrates, but cellobiose was the best inhibitor. This lectin can be also purified on cellulose as an affinity sorbent. Unlike the L-fucose-specific lectin from perch roe, the cellobiose-specific lectin is less soluble in water-saline solutions. Lectin solubility increases greatly in presence of specific inhibitors, cellobiose, in particular. L-fucose, alpha-methyl-L-fucopyranoside and 4-nitrophenyl-alpha-L-fucopyranoside are equivalent inhibitors for both lectins. According to SDS-PAGE data, the lectins contain two components with molecular weight 12-13 kDa. In solutions, these components form molecules with 50 or 100 kDa (depending on pH). Data obtained from electrophoresis in PAAG in alkaline (pH 8.9) and acidic system (pH 4.3), and SDS-PAGE did not display essential distinctions between these both lectins.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1990

A calcium-dependent galactose-binding lectin from the tunicate Polyandrocarpa misakiensis. Isolation, characterization, and amino acid sequence.

A lectin was isolated from the homogenate of the tunicate Polyandrocarpa misakiensis by heat treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration, and high-performance ion-exchange chromatography. Analytical gel filtration on Superose 12 and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the lectin is a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of approximately 15 kDa. The lectin bound to an immobilized D-galactose column in the presence of calcium ion with a threshold of 500 microM and eluted completely with 5 mM EDTA. It did not bind to an immobilized D-mannose or N-acetyl-D-galactosamine column. Thus, Polyandrocarpa lectin was found to be a calcium-dependent galactose-binding lectin. The complete amino acid sequence of Polyandrocarpa lectin was determined by automated or manual Edman sequencing of the peptides derived by digestion with trypsin, endoproteinase Asp-N, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, and pepsin. It is composed of 125 residues, contains no carbohydrate group, and has a calculated molecular mass of 14,034 Da. The lectin contains four half-cystines, and Cys-21 and Cys-119 and also Cys-96 and Cys-111 form intrachain disulfide bridges, respectively. The amino acid sequence of Polyandrocarpa lectin shows about 20-30% homology with those of fly, barnacle, sea urchin, and several vertebrate lectins that belong to C-type lectin (Drickamer, K. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 9557-9560). Although the physiological role of Polyandrocarpa lectin is not clear, preliminary experiments suggest that the lectin may be related to defense mechanisms because it has a strong antibacterial activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1975

Inhibition of IgE and compound 48/80-induced histamine release by lectins.

Lectins from Ricinus communis and Glycine max, as well as wheat germ agglutinin and concanavalin A, caused a dose-dependent release of histamine from mast cells present in the mixed peritoneal cells from the rat. In addition, histamine release in an IgE-mediated and a compound 48/80-mediated reaction was inhibited in cells which had been pretreated with these lectins. With concanavalin A and the R. communis lectin both effect were prevented by the addition of the appropriate monosaccharides to the incubations. However, the lectin-induced histamine release and the lectin-induced inhibition of subsequent IgE-mediated histamine release could be dissociated: thus L-rhamnose, a hexose not ordinarily found on mammalian cell membranes, a specifically inhibited histamine release which was caused by the lectin from R. communis without affecting the inhibition of IgE-mediated histamine release. Conversely, D-fucose, which also is not a constituent of cell membrane glycolipids or glycoproteins prevented the inhibition of IgE-mediated histamine release by this lectin without affecting the lectin-induced histamine release. Furthermore, the nominally galactose-specific lectins from Sophora japonica and Ulex europeus inhibited IgE-mediated histamine release while causing little if any histamine release themselves. High concentrations of the lectin from Lotus tetragonolobus failed to cause histamine release or to affect the IgE-mediated histamine release reaction. Based on the known structural specificity of these lectins and the amounts of the lectins which were required to demonstrate an effect, it was concluded that D-galactose, alpha-linked, intrachain D-glucose (or mannose), and N-acetylglucosamine residues but probably not N-acetyl-galactosamine or L-fucose residues in the glycolipids or glycoproteins of the mast cell membrane can play a role in the initiation of histamine release and in the desensitization of the cells to subsequent histamine release-inducing stimuli.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Isolation and properties of beta-galactoside binding lectins of calf heart and lung.

A soluble lectin which agglutinates trypsin-treated rabbit erythrocytes was purified from calf heart using affinity chromatography on asialofetuin-Sepharose. Its molecular weight was determined by gel filtration to be approximately 17,000. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate, the predominant molecular species had a molecular weight of 9,000, suggesting that the lectin is a dimer. Binding studies performed with iodinated lectin revealed that neuraminidase-treated calf erythrocytes contained approximately 5 X 10(6) lectin binding sites per cell. Native calf and rabbit erythrocytes bound the lectin, but human and rat erythrocytes required neuraminidase and trypsin treatment, respectively, for lectin binding to occur. A number of saccharides, glycopeptides, and glycoproteins possess haptene inhibitory activity toward lectin binding to erythrocytes. The most potent of these have either galactose beta leads to galactose beta leads to, galactose beta N-acetylglucosamine beta leads to, or galactose beta leads to N-acetylglucosamine beta leads to sequences at their nonreducing termini. Lactose and galactose beta 1 leads to 3N-acetylgalactosamine are the next best haptenes. Finally, alpha-linked galactose residues and free galactose are very weak haptenes. The presences of a terminal sialic acid residue impairs haptene activity in all instances. Calf heart also contains a membrane-associated lectin which is very similar but not identical with the soluble lectin. A soluble beta-galactoside binding lectin was also isolated from calf lung. It has the same molecular size and subunit structure as the soluble heart lectin and is antigenically identical. In binding studies, the pattern of inhibition by various haptenes was the same for all three lectins.

Animals↗