Abstract
A major molecular species of concanavalin A (Con A), a mitogenic lectin from jack bean seeds, has a quaternary structure composed of four homologous subunits and a tetravalent sugar-binding ability. We show that the tetrameric Con A can be converted into a monovalent monomeric form by either photochemical alkylation or hydrogen peroxide/dioxane oxidation of about two tryptophan residues. A divalent dimeric derivative of Con A is also prepared by sulfomethylamidation of about four carboxyl groups. Chemical properties and mitogenic and hemagglutinating activities of these new Con A derivates are compared with those of the tetravalent Con A, as well as of the Con A derivatives that have appeared in the literature on cell biological studies. The significance of the lectin valences in lymphocyte activation and hemagglutination is also discussed.
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Ishii, Si., Abe, Y., Tanaka, I. et al. Alteration of quaternary structure and biological activity of concanavalin A. J Protein Chem 3, 63–71 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01024837
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01024837