Effects of chemical modification on the conformation and biological activity of peanut agglutinin

The effect of chemical modifications on the biological properties of peanut agglutinin was investigated. The free amino groups were modified with succinic anhydride and 1-isothiocyanato-4-benzenesulfonic acid. Though the extent of modification was 95 and 85%, respectively, these derivatives did not lose their sugar binding capacity. The agglutinating activity with neuraminidase-treated human erythrocytes and various tumor cells was reduced. The mitogenic activity tested with neuraminidase-treated human lymphocytes was also diminished The tyrosine residues were modified with tetranitromethane and further with 4-aminophenyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside and the negatively charged 2-(4-amino-benzyl)-alpha-D-neuraminic acid. The extent of modification was 30, 28 and 6%, respectively. The agglutinating and mitogenic activities were in this case not severely changed. The influence of all these modifications on the conformation was investigated by means of CD studies in the far and near ultraviolet regions.