title: Characterization of the specificity of binding of Moluccella laevis lectin to glycosphingolipids.
abstract: The specificity of Moluccella laevis lectin was investigated by analysing its binding to glycosphingolipids separated on thin-layer chromatograms or adsorbed on microtitre wells. The binding activity of the lectin was highest for glycosphingolipids with terminal alpha-linked N-acetylgalactosamine, both in linear structures, as the Forssman glycosphingolipid, GalNAc alpha 3GalNAc beta 3Gal alpha 4Glc beta 1Cer, and in branched structures, as glycosphingolipids with the blood group A determinant, GalNAc alpha 3(Fuc alpha 2)Gal beta. In addition, the lectin bound, though considerably more weakly, to linear glycosphingolipids with terminal alpha-linked galactose. When considering the use of the M. laevis lectin for biochemical and medical purposes this cross-reactivity may be of importance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Göteborg University, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teneberg
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leonardsson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Angström
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehrlich-Rogozinski
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharon
mesh_terms: D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins