Isolation and characterization of a seed lectin from elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) and its relationship to the bark lectins

Carbohydr Res. 1991 Jun 25:213:7-17. doi: 10.1016/s0008-6215(00)90593-7.

Abstract

A third elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) lectin (SNA-III) has been isolated from dry seeds by affinity chromatography on immobilized 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose. This lectin is a blood-group, nonspecific glycoprotein containing 21% of carbohydrate, and is rich in asparagine (or aspartic acid), serine, glutamine (or glutamic acid), and glycine. Gel filtration on Superose 12 yielded a single symmetrical peak corresponding to mol. wt. 50,000, SDS-poly(acrylamide) gel (SDS-PAGE) electrophoresis showed a single polypeptide band of 33 kDa, indicating that the native protein is a dimer of identical subunits. Hapten-inhibition assays of the agglutination of red blood cells showed that 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose is the best inhibitor, being twice as potent as D-galactose, melibiose, and 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-galactose. A comparison of SNA-III to the previously described elderberry-bark lectins, SNA-I and SNA-II, indicated that the seed lectin is well distinct from them.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / analysis
  • Carbohydrate Metabolism
  • Carbohydrates / analysis
  • Hemagglutination
  • Hot Temperature
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Immunochemistry
  • Lectins / chemistry
  • Lectins / isolation & purification*
  • Lectins / metabolism
  • Molecular Structure
  • Molecular Weight
  • Plant Lectins
  • Ribosome Inactivating Proteins
  • Seeds
  • Trees

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Carbohydrates
  • Lectins
  • Plant Lectins
  • Sambucus nigra lectins
  • Ribosome Inactivating Proteins