title: Chemical and biological characterization of the galactose binding lectins from Trichosanthes kirilowii root tubers.
abstract: Three galactose binding isolectins have been isolated from Trichosanthes kirilowii root tubers. Two of the isolectins, TK-I and TK-II, are similar in many aspects including molecular weight, amino acid composition, NH2-terminal amino acid residue, blood group and carbohydrate specificities, immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoretic behavior, hemagglutinating and insulinomimetic activities, and in possessing subunits with different molecular weights. Compared to TK-I and TK-II, lectin TK-III has a larger molecular weight, subunits with the same molecular weight, a single and distinctive NH2-terminal amino acid residue, a different isoelectric point and lower hemagglutinating activity. The three lectins share common antigenic determinants in their structures. beta-Linked terminal oligosaccharides containing D-galactose inhibit hemagglutination induced by the lectins with a higher potency than alpha-linked oligosaccharides. The lectins are non-mitogenic and did not inhibit the concanavalin-A induced mitogenic response of lymphocytes.
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005690:Galactose; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D037102:Lectins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008970:Molecular Weight; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D037102:Lectins; D005690:Galactose