About the Lectin

Seeds of Cytisus scoparius (syn: Sarothamnus scorparius) contains isolectins specific for N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and galactose 1 . A distinct lectin specific for L-fucose also appears to be present 2 . E-Y Laboratories uses affinity chromatography to isolate the GalNAc/Gal-specific isolectins. With this preparation, GalNac is more than 100 times more potent as an inhibitor than is Gal. Thus, it is predominantly the GalNAc-specific isolectin (CSA II). The lectin is not blood-group specific, but reacts more strongly with neuraminidase-treated erythrocytes. Lactose and melibiose are equally effective as inhibitors, being 3-4 times more inhibitory than is Gal: thus, the lectin is indifferent to the anomeric conformation of the Gal/GalNAc residue. The amino acid sequence of the GalNAc-specific lectin (CSA II) has been determined; it has regions of high homology with other legume lectins, although no more homologous with the O(H) (fucose-binding) lectins from other species opf Cytisus 3 . A peptide from Asp-N digests with affinity for GalNAc was isolated and found to be highly homologous with the metal ion/carbohydrate-binding peptide from Con A and other legume lectins 3 .

REFERENCES

  1. Young, N. M., et al. (1984). Biochem. J. 222 : 41-48.
  2. Gurtler, L.G. (1978) Biochim, Biophys. Acta 544 : 593-604.
  3. Konami, Y., et al. (1992) J. Biochem. 112 : 366-375.
  4. Horejsi, V. and Kocourek, J. (1978) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 538 : 299-315

Product Characteristics
Buffer 0.01M Phosphate – 0.15M NaCl, pH 7.2-7.4
Blood Group Nonspecific.
Activity Reacts weakly with untreated erythrocytes. 1‑2μg/ml will agglutinate neuraminidase treated cells.
Inhibitory Carbohydrate N-acetyl‑D‑galactosamine >> Lactose, Melibiose > Galactose
Molecular Weight A single band of MW=31,000 by SDS-PAGE. 120,000 by sedimentation equilibrium and sephadex G-200 TLC suggests a homotetrameric structure4.