Binding properties and applications of Aplysia gonad lectin

Adult Aplysia gonad contains high levels of a galactophilic lectin (MW around 65 kDa; composed of 2 subunits of apparent single species). It binds galactose and various alpha/beta-galactosides (but not N-acetylgalactosamine), in addition to an outstanding high affinity for galacturonic acid. This lectin is relatively resistant to heating up to 70 degrees C and to alkaline pH, but sensitive to proteolysis and low pH. It resembles galectins in binding to poly LacNAc (preferentially branched) complexes at low temperatures (0 degrees-4 degrees C) more avidly than at room temperature or at 37 degrees C, but differs from them in being Ca(2+)-dependent. It agglutinates papain/sialidase-treated erythrocytes more strongly than untreated cells and stimulates mitosis in peripheral human lymphocytes (inducing IL-2 formation). This lectin also enhances neurite outgrowth and increases their viability, while suppressing cell tumorigenicity. It is useful for histochemical/ cytochemical studies of galacturonic acid in plant tissues and fungi and for the study of cell surface composition of various prokaryotic (including halophilic Archaea) and eukaryotic cells and for their typing. It is useful as a reagent for I-antigen detection in adult human erythrocytes (anti-I), exhibiting strongest agglutination of O(h) Bombay-type erythrocytes and also exhibits sensitivity to the T antigen. It binds galactosylated molecules in human body fluids (shown by hemagglutination--inhibition tests), including saliva, seminal fluid and milk (detecting individual divergence) and in fowl egg albumens (exhibiting highest affinity for that of pigeon). Therefore, it might be valuable as a probe and fishhook for fishing compounds exhibiting anti-bacterial/neoplastic cell adhesion activities.