A lectin-like substance from bovine spleen.
A lectin-like substance was isolated and purified from bovine spleen. This protein was named bovine spleen binding protein (BSBP). BSBP has binding activity for sialidase-treated bovine erythrocytes but not for normal erythrocytes. It specifically recognizes terminal galactose residues of sugar moieties of the bovine erythrocyte cell surface. BSBP shows an apparent molecular weight of 240,000. It is an acidic protein having a pI value of 4.8 and containing 13% carbohydrates. It has mitogenic activity against human peripheral lymphocytes. The physiological role of BSBP has not been clarified yet, but it may play a significant role in the clearance of aged erythrocytes which have a decreased amount of sialic acid on the cell surface.
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002417:Cattle; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009439:Neuraminidase; D013154:Spleen / Q000032:analysis*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D009439:Neuraminidase