About the Lectin

A crude lectin isolated by salt extraction from the seeds of Iberis amara has been shown to have anti-M blood group specificity. 1,2 The blood group activity only occurs with high concentrations of the crude protein fraction. EY Laboratories has also found some seed batches that exhibit activity with N+M erythrocytes as well as having anti-M specificity. Some batches of the crude lectin do not exhibit significant agglutination at all. Simple sugars are not inhibitors of crude lectin induced agglutination. The specific carbohydrate binding properties of this lectin have not been determined. At this time there is no purified form available in order to determine the carbohydrate specificity.

The lectin has been used in conjunction with other lectins to characterize glycopeptides from a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of a murine mammary gland carcinoma. 3

REFERENCES

  1. Romanowska, E. (1964) Vox Sang. 9 : 578-588.
  2. Ohlenbruck, G. and Dahr, W. (1971) Vox Sang. 21 : 338-351.
  3. Codington, J.F., et al. (1975) Carb. Res. 40 : 171-182.

Product Characteristics
Buffer 0.01M Phosphate – 0.15M NaCl, pH 7.2-7.4.
Blood Group Anti-M and anti M+N have been reported.
Activity Only crude material has been tested. The blood agglutination titer is approximately 4-8 using a starting concentration of 20mg solid/ml PBS.
Inhibitory Carbohydrate Nominally, N-Acetylgalactosamine, but not inhibited by simple sugars.
Molecular Weight Not determined.