[Catalytic concentration, multiple forms, and lectin affinity of microsomal enzymes from human tissues: lectins as...

We estimated the concentrations, multiple forms, and lectin binding of five microsomal enzymes in particle free extracts from human kidney, pancreas, jejunal mucosa, and normal and cancerous liver. While arylesterase markedly reacted only with concanavalin A, arylamidase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and cholinesterase were intensely precipitated by lectins from Ricinus communis 120, Canavalia ensiformis, Triticum vulgare and Phaseolus vulgaris S. Agglutinins from Glycine max, Arachis hypogaea and Ulex europaeus proved less effective. The reaction mainly depended on the origin of enzymes not on their species. Desialylation always decreased precipitation, and in extracts of normal liver parenchyma it even totally abolished precipitation, by Triticum vulgare lectin. Sialoenzymes therefore appear to be normal intracellular constituents. Differences between enzymes from normal and cancerous liver were not reflected by variant properties of the corresponding activities in sera. The same held true for multiple forms. The reasons for these differences are discussed.