Effects of CuCl2 on the dimer-tetramer equilibrium of concanavalin A

Tetrameric concanavalin A at neutral pH dissociated into the dimer when CuCl2 was added in a concentration range comparable to protomer concentration. This effect of CuCl2 was largely suppressed when NaCl concentration was increased. Neither the conformation of the protein nor its binding activity to 4-methylumbelliferyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside was affected on addition of CuCl2.