title: The lectin from the algae Udotea petiolata: isolation, characterization and sugar binding properties.
abstract: In the present work, we describe a novel lectin which is specific for poly-N-acetyllactosamine sequences on complex N- and O-linked carbohydrate chains. This lectin was extracted and purified from the algae Udotea petiolata. The purified lectin is a monomer with a molecular mass of 65,000 and an isoelectric point of 5.6. It agglutinates normal, neuraminidase and protease-treated erythrocytes from humans irrespectively of the blood group (A, B and O) and animal erythrocytes. The Udotea lectin displays a strong mitogenic effect on human lymphocytes, especially T-cells. This lectin binds to the human serum plasma protein 8S alpha 3-glycoprotein with high affinity (ID50 0.02 microM); other species of human serum glycoproteins exhibiting a similar preponderance of complex type N-glycosylation showed also high binding capacities in the order 9.5 S alpha 1-glycoprotein greater than alpha 2-macroglobulin = beta 2 glycoprotein = immunoglobulin A greater than asialofetuin greater than alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and mucin glycopeptide (from amnion fluid). Monosaccharides and disaccharides tested do not bind to the lectin. This novel lectin will be useful for identification of N- and O-linked glycans rich in poly-N-acetyllactosamine.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Immunobiologie, Universitätsklinik Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uhlenbruck
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Hanisch
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kljajic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poznanovic
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D056890:Eukaryota; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006382:Hemadsorption; D006384:Hemagglutination; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D011134:Polysaccharides; C037199:poly-N-acetyllactosamine