[A new alpha chain of jacalin from two wild species of jack-fruit seeds]

Jacalins, from jack-fruit seeds of 2 wild species (Artocarpus asperulus, Artocarpus masticata) were purified by mucine-sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. The alpha and beta chains were separated by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Analysis by HPLC with a C8 column and the determination of the N-terminal sequence of the alpha-chain of these jacalins allowed the identification of a new alpha-chain. Immunological cross-reactivity and carbohydrate specificity indicate that jacalins possessing the new alpha-chain conserve structural and functional properties of the other members of Artocarpus genus.