A D-galactose-binding lectin with mitogenic activity from Musca domestica pupae.
A lectin with potent mitogenic activity was isolated from Musca domestica pupae. The lectin was a monomer with a molecular weight of 55 kDa. The purification procedure mainly involved affinity chromatography on galactose-Sepharose-4B. The lectin agglutinated trypsin-treated rabbit blood cells. D-galactose was detected to inhibit the lectin's hemagglutination activity. The lectin was metal independent and temperature dependent and was detected by the periodic acid-Shiff reaction to be a glycoprotein with a carbohydrate content of 2.1%. Observations with an atomic force microscope indicated that the lectin was a globular protein about 75 nm in size, with several carbohydrate chains linked to it. It elicited a mitogenic response from mouse splenocytes in vitro, with the maximal response at a concentration of 20 microg/ml. No lectin has been reported before from Musca domestica pupae, and the lectin we discovered could be of great importance in insect immunity and hypoimmune diseases.
Cao
Xiaohong
X
Key Laboratory of Food Safety and Sanitation, Ministry of Education, College of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China.
Mao
Dezhi
D
Wang
Chunling
C
Zeng
Bin
B
Wang
Aihua
A
Lu
Meifang
M
Xu
Chengjian
C
D000818:Animals; D005690:Galactose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006384:Hemagglutination; D006793:Houseflies / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008670:Metals; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008934:Mitogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D011679:Pupa / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013696:Temperature
D037102:Lectins; D008670:Metals; D008934:Mitogens; D005690:Galactose