title: A fluorimetric study of the lanthanides binding to concanavalin A.
abstract: The binding of Tb3+ and other lanthanides to Con A has been studied by sensitized Tb3+ luminescence, by quenching of intrinsic fluorescence and by activity measurements. In all the experimental conditions tested, it was found that holo and apo Con A bind lanthanide ions at a site different from the binding sites of the constitutive metals, Mn2+ and Ca2+. The bound lanthanide did not affect the saccharide binding ability and the hemoagglutinating ability of Con A. The intrinsic fluorescence of Con A is quenched by the binding of Tb3+ and Gd3+. The same quenching is obtained by shifting the pH of Con A from pH 6.5 to 4.5. It is proposed that H+ and Ln3+ completely quench a tryptophan, perhaps the residue 88 or 182.
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D003208:Concanavalin A; D006384:Hemagglutination / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008345:Manganese / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D011485:Protein Binding; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013725:Terbium / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013725:Terbium; D003208:Concanavalin A; D008345:Manganese; D002118:Calcium