A study of maturation events in jackbeans (Canavalia ensiformis)

Maturation events have been studied in developing jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis) cotyledons by using a combination of analysis by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, overlays with 125I-concanavalin A (Con A) and the use of anti-(Con A) after Western transfer. The number of polypeptides recognized by 125I-Con A varies during maturation, until at maturity only one remains. Several molecular forms of the lectin occur during development; one, corresponding to Mr 33 000 and found only in immature seeds, interacts with 125I-Con A, suggesting that it is glycosylated.