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Published on: August 12, 2016
Studies on a glucose-binding lectin from peripheral blood lymphocytes
R Kayestha1, A Berry, K Hajela
1School of Life Sciences, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalay, Vigyan Bhawan, Indore, India.
Insights
Researchers isolated a D-glucose-specific lectin from goat lymphocytes. This lectin, important for cell interactions, showed calcium-dependent hemagglutinating activity and appears to be a type C animal lectin.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Lectin-carbohydrate interactions are crucial for lymphocyte recirculation and inflammatory processes.
- Understanding lectins involved in these processes can reveal mechanisms of immune cell function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a D-glucose-specific lectin from goat peripheral blood lymphocytes.
- To investigate the properties and potential classification of this lymphocyte lectin.
Main Methods:
- Affinity chromatography using N-acetyl-D-glucosamine agarose for lectin isolation.
- Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to determine molecular weight.
- Hemagglutination assays to assess lectin activity with erythrocytes.
Main Results:
- A single band of 112 kDa was observed in SDS-PAGE, indicating a stable protein structure.
- The isolated lectin demonstrated calcium-dependent agglutination of rabbit and human ABO erythrocytes.
- The lectin's specificity for D-glucose and its properties suggest it is a type C animal lectin.
Conclusions:
- A novel D-glucose-specific lectin was successfully isolated from goat lymphocytes.
- The lectin exhibits calcium-dependent hemagglutinating activity, consistent with type C animal lectins.
- This finding contributes to understanding lectin-mediated interactions in immune cell functions.
Abstract:
Lectin-carbohydrate interactions have been found to be important in many of the steps of lymphocyte recirculation and inflammatory responses. A D-glucose-specific lectin was isolated from goat peripheral blood lymphocytes by affinity chromatography on N-acetyl-D-glucosamine agarose and gave a single band corresponding to 112 kDa in SDS-PAGE, irrespective of treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol. The lymphocyte lectin agglutinated rabbit and human ABO erythrocytes, the hemagglutinating activity being Ca2+ dependent. It appears to be a member of type C animal lectins.
