The presence of concanavalin A and canatoxin in Canavalia ensiformis DC tissue culture

Isolated embryos, cotyledons and embryos plusa fragment of cotyledon from seeds of Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean) were cultured in vitro. Concanavalin A and canatoxin cross-reactive material were detected by double immunodiffusion tests. Canatoxin was detectable until 30 days in cultures of embryos, embryos plus cotyledons and hypocotyls. Concanavalin A was also present in all cultures being detected until 90 days in cultures treated with 6-benzylaminopurine. No concanavalin A was detected in root cultures. Concanavalin A was present in cell suspensions until 45 days of culture; the culture medium contained neither concanavalin A nor canatoxin. Tissue cultures thus can produce Con A and CNTX and will be an important research tool for studying the biosynthesis of such substances.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BA 6-benzylaminopurine - CNTX canatoxin - Con A concanavalin A - CRM cross-reactive material - DEAE-cellulose diethylaminoethyl-cellulose - IgG immunoglobulin G - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - Tris tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane