HOME JOURNALS CONTACT

Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2004 | Volume: 7 | Issue: 10 | Page No.: 1808-1813
DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2004.1808.1813
Purification and Characterization of Lectins from Mulberry Seeds (Morus alba L.)
M. A. Hossain, S.M. Rafiqul Islam and N. Absar

Abstract: Three electrophoretically homogeneous lectins were purified from the extract of mulberry seeds. The two lectins i.e. MSL-2 and MLS-3 were purified by gel filtration of 100% ammonium sulfate saturated crude extract followed by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose while another MSL-1 was purified by further chromatography on CM-cellulose column. The purity of the lectins was checked by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. The molecular masses of MSL-1, MSL-2 and MLS-3 as determined by gel filtration were estimated to be 175, 120 and 89 kDa, respectively. Again molecular masses of MSL-1, MSL-2 and MSL-3 as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were calculated to be 177, 121 and 90 kDa, respectively. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the lectin, MSL-1 was dimer in nature with two subunits held together by disulfide bonds. The other two lectins, MSL-2 and MSL-3 were tetramer in nature contained four non-identical subunits that were held together by nonionic hydrophobic interaction. The lectins agglutinated specifically rat red blood cells and galactose and galactose containing sugars were found to be the potent inhibitor of agglutination. The lectins were glycoproteins in nature with neutral sugar content of 5.6, 5.3 and 4.5% for MSl-1 MSL-2 and MSL-3, respectively. The sugar composition of the lectins was glucose and mannose for MSL-1 and galactose for both MSL-2 and MSL-3.

Fulltext PDF

How to cite this article
M. A. Hossain, S.M. Rafiqul Islam and N. Absar, 2004. Purification and Characterization of Lectins from Mulberry Seeds (Morus alba L.). Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 7: 1808-1813.

Keywords: lectins, moraceae and hemagglutation

REFERENCES

  • Wangkham, S., C. Wangkham, P. Boonsiri, S. Simasathiansophon, C. Trisonthi and K. Atisook, 1995. Isolectins from seeds of Artocarpus lakoocha. Phytochemistry, 40: 1331-1334.


  • Liener, I.E., N. Sharon and I.J. Goldstein, 1986. The Lectins: Properties, Functions and Application in Biology and Medicine. Academic Press, Orlando, FL., pp: 600


  • Yagi, F., T. Iwaya, T. Haraguchi and I.J. Goldstein, 2002. The lectin from leaves of Japanese cycad. Cycas revoluta Thunb. (gymnosperm) is a member of the jacalin-related family. Eur. J. Biochem., 269: 4335-4341.


  • Mc Pherson, A., C.N. Hankins and L. Shannon, 1987. Preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of crystalline lectins from the seeds and leaves of Sophora japonica. J. Biol. Chem., 262: 1791-1794.


  • Miller, B.J., R. Hsu and S. Yachnin, 1975. . Extensive homology between the subunits of the phytohemagglutinin mitogenic protein derive from Phaseolus vulgaris. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 72: 1388-1391.


  • Singh, J., S.S. Kamboj, R.S. Sandhu, S. Shangary and K.K. Kamboj, 1993. Purification characterization of tuber lectin from Alocasia indica. Phytochemistry, 33: 979-983.


  • Lis, H. and N. Sharon, 1986. Lectins as molecules and tools. Annu. Rev. Biochem., 55: 35-67.


  • Clark, J. M. and R. L. Switzer, 1977. Experimental Biochemistry. 2nd Edn., W.H. Freeman and Co., New York, USA., pp: 76


  • Ornstein, L., 1964. Disc electrophoresis. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 121: 321-349.


  • Webber, K. and M. Osborn, 1969. The relatibility of molecular weight determination by sodium dodesyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. J. Biol. Chem., 244: 4406-4412.


  • Lin, J.Y., T.C. Lee, S.T. Hu and T.C. Tung, 1981. Isolation of four isotoxic proteins and one agglutinin from jequiriti bean (Abrus precatorius). Toxicology, 19: 41-51.
    PubMed    Direct Link    


  • Andrews and T. Anthony, 1978. Electrophoresis Theory and Techniques and Biochemical and Clinical Application. 2nd Edn., Oxford Science Publication, Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory, UK., pp: 37


  • DuBois, M., K.A. Gilles, J.K. Hamilton, P.A. Rebers and F. Smith, 1956. Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Anal. Chem., 28: 350-356.
    CrossRef    Direct Link    


  • Touchstone, J.C. and M.F. Dobbins, 1978. Practice of Thin-layer Chromatography. 1st Edn., Wiley Interscience, New York,, pp: 173, 212


  • Absar, N. and G. Funatsu, 1984. Purification and characterization of Abrus precatorius agglutinin. J. Fac. Agric. Kyushu Univ. Jpn., 29: 103-115.


  • Itoh, M., K. Kondo, H. Komada, K. Izutsu, Y. Shimabayashi and T. Takahashi, 1980. Purification and characterization of a lectin from Phaseolus vulgaris seed. Agric. Biol. Chem., 44: 125-133.
    CrossRef    Direct Link    


  • Van Damme, E.J.M., A. Barre, A. Mazard, P. Verhaert and A. Horman et al., 1999. Characterization and molecular cloning of the lectin from Helianthus tuberosus. Eur. J. Biochem., 259: 135-142.
    CrossRef    PubMed    Direct Link    

  • © Science Alert. All Rights Reserved