Fractionation of glycoproteins according to lectin affinity and molecular size using a high-performance liquid...

The lectin phytohaemagglutinin was coupled to porous silica (10 micron) and used as adsorbent in a high-performance liquid affinity column sequentially coupled to a TSK-G 3000SW gel permeation column. This system was used for high-speed separation/analysis of human serum glycoproteins according to their lectin affinity and molecular size. Serum samples could be resolved in at least six different peaks representing glycoproteins exhibiting different molecular weights but with a carbohydrate content compatible with the specificity of phytohaemagglutinin.