Quantification of lectin receptors on B, T, T-gamma and T-mu lymphocytes. I. Concanavalin A, Pisum sativum, Lens culinaris and wheat-germ agglutinin

The immune system is formed of different lymphocyte subpopulations, each one having a defined role to defend the organism. Their plasma membranes present differences in the glycoproteinic or/and glycolipidic composition, as detected with labelled 125I-lectins. B lymphocytes have a greater number of receptors for the Pisum sativum, Lens culinaris and WGA lectins than T lymphocytes. On the other hand, T lymphocytes bind a greater number of Concanavalin A molecules than B lymphocytes. WGA lectin appeared to be more specific for T mu subpopulation, while Con A and Pisum sativum lectins were bound preferentially to T gamma lymphocytes while no significant differences were observed between both subpopulations for Lens culinaris lectin. From the affinity of each lectin to each lymphocyte population it could be deduced that the receptor structure, conformation and arrangement on the membrane was optimal in B lymphocytes for Con A and WGA binding, and T lymphocytes for Lens culinaris and Pisum sativum binding.     

Comparative analysis of membrane glycoproteins of normal and chronic lymphatic leukemia B lymphocytes by lectins

Eight plant lectins were used to investigate membrane alterations in lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). By rosetting with lectins attached to latex particles, the cell percentages with the abundance of each lectin receptor were compared in B normal and leukemic lymphocytes. Comparing these data with the number of lectin molecules bound to each cell and the affinity, which are values calculated with 125I-labeled lectins, it was possible to deduce differences in the composition of glycoproteins in B normal and B-CLL lymphocytes membrane. Compared to B normal, B-CLL lymphocytes had fewer receptors for WGA and more for Lens culinaris, SBA and Tetragonolobus purpureus lectins. Receptors for Concanavalin A, Pisum sativum, PHA and Tetragonolobus purpureus showed a higher affinity with B normal lymphocytes, while the other lectins assayed showed more affinity with B-CLL lymphocytes. So, it is possible to establish a comparative analysis about the plasma membrane glycoproteins in the B normal and CLL lymphocytes by lectin binding studies.     

Fractionation of lymphocytes using affinity chromatography with 9 lectins

Lymphocyte subclasses from normal peripheral blood have been fractionated by affinity chromatography with lectins. Concanavalin A (Con A), Lens culinaris lectin (LC), Pisum sativum lectin (PS), Phaseolus vulgaris lectin (PHA), Dolichos biflours lectin (DB), Glicine max lectin (SBA), Ricinus communis lectin (RCA II), Tetragonolobus purpureus lectin (TP) and Triticum vulgaris lectin (WGA), were coupled to Sepharose 6MB, and lymphocytes labelled with 125I were eluted through the chromatographic columns. The binding of lymphocytes to WGA and SBA lectins was 32% and 13% respectively. The binding to the other lectins tested were found to be between 32% and 13%. When solutions of increasing concentrations of specific sugar were added to the columns a progressive elution of bound lymphocytes was observed. These results indicate the existence of a large range of lymphocyte subclasses, with different binding capacity to lectins, which was a function of the receptor number or/and receptor affinity to each lectin. Furthermore, these two parameters were found to vary in each functional population. Even though all the lymphocytes had lectin receptors, T lymphocytes showed higher affinity for Con A, PHA and TP lectins, while B lymphocytes appeared to be more specific for LC, PS, SBA, DB, RCAII and WGA lectins.     

Lectin-associated proteins from the seeds of Leguminosae

The seeds of Pisum sativum (pea), Canavalia ensiformis, Vicia faba, Vicia sativa, and Ricinus communis were shown to contain proteins which are associated to the respective lectins (lectin binders). The lectin binders from Pisum sativum and Canavalia ensiformis were studied more closely. Both are single proteins not resembling the variety of membrane glycoproteins found in animals and plants which bind to lectins. The pea lectin binder is a tetrameric glycoprotein composed of identical subunits of the Mr 51 000. Its interaction with the lectin is abolished by acidic buffers or by glucose. The Concanavalin A binder, which does not contain sugar, is composed of one kind of subunit, Mr of 35 000. As in the case of the pea lectin binder, glucose and acid dissociate the lectin-lectin binder complex, but in contrast to the pea lectin binder low NaCl concentrations also cause this effect. During germination and growth, the Concanavalin A binder appears in the roots.     

The lectin-binding protein from the pea (Pisum sativum); properties and interactions

The lectin-binding protein (lectin binder) from the garden pea (Pisum sativum) was studied. It is a glycoprotein composed of four subunits of about 50 000 Da. Its amino-acid composition and molecular mass differ from those of lectin and of storage proteins. The interaction between lectin and lectin binder is demonstrated and quantified by several different methods and is shown to be specifically sugar-dependent. A biological function of lectin binders and lectins is discussed.     

Molecular cloning of the bark and seed lectins from the Japanese pagoda tree (Sophora japonica)

cDNA clones encoding the bark and seed lectins from Sophora japonica were isolated and their sequences analyzed. Screening of a cDNA library constructed from polyA RNA isolated from the bark resulted in the isolation of three different lectin cDNA clones. The first clone encodes the GalNAc-specific bark lectin which was originally described by Hankins et al. whereas the other clones encode the two isoforms of the mannose/glucose-specific lectin reported by Ueno et al.. Molecular cloning of the seed lectin genes revealed that Sophora seeds contain only a GalNAc-specific lectin which is highly homologous to though not identical with the GalNAc-specific lectin from the bark. All lectin polypeptides are translated from mRNAs of ca. 1.3 kb encoding a precursor carrying a signal peptide. In the case of the mannose/glucose-specific bark lectins this precursor is post-translationally processed in two smaller peptides. Alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences of the different clones revealed striking sequence similarities between the mannose/glucose-binding and the GalNAc-specific lectins. Furthermore, there was a high degree of sequence homology with other legume lectins which allowed molecular modelling of the Sophora lectins using the coordinates of the Pisum sativum, Lathyrus ochrus and Erythrina corallodendron lectins.     

Production of pea lectin in Escherichia coli

In order to explore the molecular basis for the glycopeptide specificity of legume lectins, we have developed an experimental system in which specific amino acid alterations can be introduced into the carbohydrate binding site of pea lectin. This system is based on the production of pea lectin in Escherichia coli. The plasmid coding for the lectin was constructed from two lectin cDNA sequences isolated from Pisum sativum seeds (Higgins, T. J. V., Chandler, P. M., Zurawski, G., Button, S. C., and Spencer, D. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 9544-9549) and an expression vector based on the gene for the outer membrane lipoprotein of E. coli (Nakamura, K., and Inouye, M. (1982) EMBO J. 1, 771-775). The lectin is produced as a single polypeptide chain and forms insoluble aggregates in E. coli cells (2-5 mg/liter). Functional lectin is recovered by solubilization of the aggregates in guanidinium hydrochloride, renaturation in the presence of MnCl2 and CaCl2, and affinity purification on Sephadex. This procedure yields a homogeneous 28,000-dalton protein. Comparison of the recombinant lectin with natural pea lectin in an inhibition of hemagglutination assay demonstrated that there is no detectable difference in the carbohydrate binding properties of the two lectins.     

Further characterization of monoclonal antibody 6,F-8 reacting with Lathyrus, Lens and Pisum lectins

The murine monoclonal antibody (MoAB) 6,F-8 made against the glucose/mannose-specific Lathyrus odoratus mitogen has previously been shown to react with Lens culinaris and Pisum sativum lectins, but not with the lectin from Vicia faba [(1988) Biol. Chem. Hoppe-Seyler 369, 365-370]. The reactivity against seven other completely sequenced Lathyrus lectins has now been tested after separation of the subunits by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electroblotting to nitrocellulose filters. Two of these lectins reacted with the antibody. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of the examined lectins and the predicted hydrophilic, flexible and accessible regions of Pisum sativum suggest that valine-147 is involved in antibody binding.     

Fractionation of membrane proteins on immobilized lectins by high-performance liquid affinity chromatography

Detergent-solubilized glycoproteins were fractionated on high-performance affinity columns employing A concanavalin and Pisum sativum agglutinin as ligands immobilized on microparticulate silica via a propyl spacer. The separations were characterized by high recovery (90-95%) and high specificity (enrichment factor 6- and 58-fold for the bound fractions on A concanavalin and P. sativum agglutinin columns, respectively, compared with the crude extract), as estimated by enzyme-linked lectin assay and chromatographic criteria. In addition, the short running times (30-40 min) make this method highly useful for a first characterization of complex glycoprotein samples and of individual molecules.     

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against a mucin-type glycoprotein.

The preparation of greater than 30 different hybridomas, all secreting IgM class antibodies against epiglycanin, a glycoprotein at the surface of the mouse mammary carcinoma cell line TA3-Ha, is described. The specificities of 10 of the antibodies, with affinity constants in the range of 10(8)-10(10) l/mol were compared in an enzyme competitive binding assay. The affinity of epiglycanin was strongly reduced for all antibodies tested by incubation with periodate (10 mM, 4 degrees C) and was reduced for most of the antibodies by endo-alpha-N-acetyl- D-galactosaminidase. This suggested that carbohydrate, and specifically the Gal beta (1----3)GalNAc disaccharide, formed an integral part of the epitopes of most of the antibodies. The isolated disaccharide, however, exhibited 250,000 times less inhibitory activity in the competitive binding assay than epiglycanin. The binding capacity of epiglycanin was also reduced by incubation with trypsin or pronase, suggesting a high molecular weight dependency for binding. Incubation with sialidase increased its affinity for the antibodies. The binding of the antibodies to epiglycanin was strongly inhibited by peanut agglutinin, and to a lesser extent by lectins from Triticum vulgaris, Ricinus communis, Pisum sativum and Phaseolus vulgaris. None of the antibodies bound to any of eight different gangliosides immobilized on HPTLC plates. Mono- (Fab) and divalent [F(ab')2] fragments of the antibodies possessed very low affinity for epiglycanin. The results demonstrated that the specificities of the antibodies are related, but distinguishable, and they suggest that this epiglycanin-IgM model may be useful for studies on the general principles of the interaction between IgM antibodies and mucin-type glycoproteins.     

Syntheses and biological evaluations of alpha-D-mannosyl [60]fullerenols.

[60]Fullerenols carrying mono- and bis-alpha-D-mannosyl linkages on the surface were prepared via a [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction between 2-azidoethyl alpha-D-mannoside and C(60) followed by polyhydroxylation with aqueous NaOH. Their biological activity was evaluated in terms of binding affinity to lectins by hemagglutination assay and surface plasmon resonance. [60]Fullerenols without the mannosyl linkage caused aggregation of erythrocytes and binding to a beta-D-galactopyranoside specific lectin (RCA(120)). In contrast, mono- and bis-mannosyl fullerenols were found to decrease the activity for both aggregating erythrocytes and binding to RCA(120), and mono-mannosyl fullerenols turned to binding to alpha-D-mannose specific lectin (Con A).     

A lectin method for investigating the glycosylation of nanogram amounts of purified glycoprotein

To unravel the complexities of the glycosylation of a protein is a substantial task, which requires considerable effort and resources. However, in many situations this is unnecessary, because only a limited amount of information is required. A new lectin-binding assay is described which is rapid, cheap and versatile. A purified glycoprotein is absorbed on to the plastic surface of a microtitre plate. After removing unbound protein by washing, uncoated sites on the plate are blocked and digoxigenin or biotin-labelled lectin is added. The degree of lectin binding is measured using either an anti-DIG antibody or streptavidin conjugated enzyme, which is subsequently used to develop a colour reaction. Using this method it is possible to screen multiple specimens with high sensitivity and excellent precision. In addition, very small amounts of lectin are used, background absorbances are low, and the procedure does not require a high degree of technical skill. Because very small amounts of glycoprotein are needed, a glycoprotein can often be rapidly purified by batch affinity chromatography. The method has been successfully applied to several purified proteins using the lectins, Con A, LCA, LTA, MAA, and SNA, and the information obtained agrees with that produced by more sophisticated approaches, eg Dionex Carbohydrate Analyser. Using a panel of lectins, a carbohydrate structural profile is quickly built-up, and subtle differences in glycosylation identified. This method should be particularly useful for screening glycosylation in multiple clinical specimens; in specimens where very small amounts of material are available, such as membrane molecules; and in the screening of recombinant proteins produced commercially. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Immobilization of immunoglobulins using lectins with an immune sensor method based on surface plasmon resonance

The effect of different lectins upon the response of immune sensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was investigated. Lectins affinity to carbohydrates of the IgG can be used to increase the density and orientation of IgG molecules at their immobilisation on the sensor surface. Conditions were elaborated for enhancement of immune sensor response in comparison with that one for bare or preliminary treated with dodecanthiol thin gold sensor surface. It was shown that human IgG revealed maximal affinity to wheat germ lectin and mouse monoclonal antibodies and rabbit IgG--to helix pomatia lectin. Pig antibodies, similar to human IgG, showed the greatest affinity to wheat germ lectin.     

Identification of perivitelline N-linked glycans as mediators of sperm-egg interaction in chickens

This study demonstrates that carbohydrates play an essential role in sperm-egg interactions in birds. Sperm-egg interaction was measured in vitro as the ability of spermatozoa to hydrolyse a small hole in the inner perivitelline layer, the equivalent of the mammalian zona pellucida. Preincubation with Triticum vulgaris lectin (WGA) and succinyl-WGA (S-WGA) at 10 microgram ml(-1) resulted in complete inhibition of sperm-egg interaction, whereas at the same concentration a range of other lectins (Canavalia ensiformis (Con A), Arachis hypogea (PNA), Ulex europaeus II (UEA II), Solanum tuberosum (STA), Tetragonolobus purpureas (LTA) and Pisum sativum (PSA)) were unable to inhibit sperm egg interaction significantly, although fluorescein-labelled derivatives of these lectins were found to stain the inner perivitelline layer. Significant inhibition of sperm-egg interaction was achieved by the addition of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and fucoidin to the assay mixture; however, D-glucose, D-galactose, D-fucose and L-fucose had no significant effect on sperm-egg interaction. Pretreatment of the inner perivitelline layer with N-glycanase significantly reduced sperm-egg interaction, whereas treatment with O-glycanase had no effect. These results demonstrate that N-linked glycans play an essential role in sperm-egg interaction in chickens.     

The binding of lectins to components of plasma membranes from porcine submaxillary lymph node lymphocytes

By sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis the plasma membranes from porcine lymphocytes contain at least 30--35 glycopolypeptides and one or more glycolipids to which one or more of 12 purified lectins bind. The specificities of binding generally followed the same pattern as those of the reaction of the lectin with intact pig lymphocytes. Some lectins (e.g., the isolectin pair, Agaricus bisporus lectins A and B and a group consisting of the Lens culinaris A and B isolectins and the closely related Pisum sativum lectins) bind to almost identical populations of plasma membrane components and compete with each other for all their binding sites. Others (e.g., Concanavalin A and the Lens culinaris-Pisum sativum group and a group consisting of phytohemagglutinin-L, Ricinus communis lectin-60 and Ricinus communis lectin-120 bind in a cross reactive manner to some common binding moieties but, in addition, to certain nonshared ones. Still others (e.g., soybean agglutinin, peanut agglutinin and wheat germ agglutinin) do not share any common binding moieties with the other lectins. The amount of lectin binding and the number of membrane components to which a lectin binds is directly related to the Ka of binding of the lectin to the intact lymphocyte. Those with high Ka (Cocanavalin A Lens culinaris lectins, Pisum sativum lectins, phytohemagglutinin-L), bind to 20-30 different components giving very complex binding patterns while those with lower Ka (Agaricus bisporus lectins, wheat germ agglutinin, peanut agglutinin, and soybean agglutinin) bind to 8--13 components with easily distinguishable patterns. Soybean agglutinin binds almost exclusively to a glycolipid fraction while for the others one or more glycopolypeptides served as the major lectin-binding molecule. The Ricinus lectins, two lymphocyte toxins, bind to essentially every plasma membrane component to which the mitogen phytohemagglutinin-L binds, in fact competing for most of those plasma membrane moieties which bind phytohemagglutinin-L.     

Immunochemical analysis of lectin acceptors in the structure of the fertility alpha 2-microglobulin

Fertility alpha 2-microglobulin reacts with 3 out of 8 lectins, which possess affinity to monosaccharides (glucose and mannose) and acetylamino sugar. The affinity is most marked to concanavalin A and is considerably weaker to Pisum sativum and Vicia faba lectins, whereas the protein gives no reaction with other lectins.     

Isolation of lectin and albumin from Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon ser. cv. sugar snap

A mannose- and glucose-binding lectin bearing considerable sequence similarity to other legume lectins was isolated using a simple procedure, from legumes of the sugar snap Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon. The lectin was unadsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel and Q-Sepharose in 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.2) and adsorbed on SP-Toyopearl in 50 mM NaOAc buffer (pH 5). An albumin could also be purified at the same time. It was unadsorbed on Affi-gel Blue gel, adsorbed on Q-Sepharose and unadsorbed on SP-Toyopearl under the aforementioned chromatographic conditions. The lectin was almost identical in N-terminal sequences of its alpha- and beta-subunit to lectin from P. sativum L. var. Feltham First except for the 19th N-terminal residue of the beta-subunit. The lectin was devoid of antifungal activity. Out of the 15 N-terminal amino acids examined in pea albumin, three were different between the two varieties of P. sativum.     

Thermodynamic studies on the interaction of water-soluble porphyrins with the glucose/mannose-specific lectin from garden pea (Pisum sativum)

Due to the application of porphyrins as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy to treat cancer, and the ability of some lectins to preferentially recognize tumor cells, studies on the interaction of porphyrins with lectins are of considerable interest. Here we report thermodynamic studies on the interaction of several free-base and metallo-porphyrins with pea (Pisum sativum) lectin (PSL). Association constants (Ka) were obtained by absorption titrations by monitoring changes in the Soret band of the porphyrins and the Ka values obtained for various porphyrins at different temperatures are in the range of 1.0 x 10(4) to 8.0 x 10(4) M(-1). Both cationic and anionic porphyrins were found to bind to PSL with comparable affinity. Presence of 0.1 M methyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside--a carbohydrate ligand that is specifically recognised by PSL--did not affect the binding significantly, suggesting that porphyrin and sugar bind at different sites on the lectin. From the temperature dependence of the Ka values, the thermodynamic parameters, change in enthalpy and change in entropy associated with the binding process were estimated. These values were found to be in the range: delthaH degree = -95.4 to -33.9 kJ x mol(-1) and deltaS degree = -237.2 to -32.2 J x mol(-1) x K(-1), indicating that porphyrin binding to pea lectin is driven largely by enthalpic forces with the entropic contribution being negative. Enthalpy-entropy compensation was observed in the interaction of different porphyrins to PSL, with the exception of meso-tetra-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinato zinc(II), emphasizing the role of water structure in the overall binding process. Circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimetric studies indicate that while porphyrin binding does not induce significant changes in the lectin structure and thermal stability, carbohydrate binding induces moderate changes in the tertiary structure of the protein and also increases its thermal unfolding temperature and the enthalpy of the unfolding transition.     

Separation of human lymphocyte subclasses by rosettes with latex-lectin particles

The specificity and affinity of eight lectins (concanavalin A, L. culinaris, P. sativum, phytohemagglutinin P, D. biflorus, soybean agglutinin, T. purpureus, and T. vulgaris) to B, T, T gamma, and T mu lymphocytes from the blood of normal subjects were determined. Lectins attached to latex particles were used to evaluate the binding of each lectin to individual cells. The rosette percentage found in each lymphocyte population expresses the specificity index and the specific sugar concentrations needed to decrease the rosette percentage by 50% is taken as the affinity index. B Lymphocytes showed a major subclass, with respect to T lymphocytes, with receptors for WGA, SBA, D. biflorus, L. culinaris, and P. sativum lectins. In contrast, T lymphocytes exhibit a greater number of cells with specific receptors for Con A, T. purpureus, and PHA lectins than B lymphocytes, the T gamma subpopulation being responsible for the specificity of the first two lectins and the T mu subpopulation for the PHA lectin.     

Bioengineering of symbiotic systems: creation of new associative symbiosis with the use of lectins on the example of tobacco and colza

"Barbate roots" in tobacco and colza transgenic on lectin gene were obtained with the use of a wild strain of Agrobacterium rhizogenes 15834 transformed with pCAMBIA1305.1 plasmid containing the full-size lectin gene (psl) from the Pisum sativum. Influence of expression oflectin gene on colonization oftransgenic roots with symbiont of pea (Rhizobium leguminosarum) was investigated. The number of adhered bacteria onto the roots transformed with lectin gene was 14-fold and 37-fold higher in comparison with the control; this confirms the interaction of R. leguminosarum with pea lectin at the surface of the transformed roots of tobacco and colza. The developed experimental approach, based on the simulation of recognition processes and early symbiotic interactions with lectins of pea plants, may, in perspective, be used for obtaining stable associations of economically valuable, nonsymbiotrophic plant species with rhizobia.