Biomaterial Database

The crystal structure of pea lectin at 6-A resolution. 1982

E J Meehan, and J McDuffie, and H Einspahr, and C E Bugg, and F L Suddath

The three-dimensional crystal structure of the mitogenic lectin from the green pea (Pisum sativum) has been determined at 6-A resolution by x-ray diffraction methods. Pea lectin was isolated by use of affinity chromatography and was crystallized from polyethylene glycol solutions. Crystals of pea lectin are orthorhombic, space group P212121, and diffract to at least 1.2-A resolution. The unit cell dimensions are a = 50.85(5), b = 61.23(5), and c = 137.3(2) A. The calculated mass of protein per asymmetric unit is 49,000 daltons, and the crystals are 44% solvent by volume. There are two pea lectin monomers per crystallographic asymmetric unit. Diffractometer data were collected from a native crystal and from a single site uranyl heavy atom derivative crystal. The position of the uranium atom, determined from three-dimensional Patterson maps, was refined by least squares techniques (R index - 0.46 for centric data). A three-dimensional electron density map was calculated by use of phases determined by isomorphous-replacement and anomalous-dispersion contributions. The boundaries of the pea lectin molecule are clearly visible in the map. The molecule appears to be a dimer, roughly peanut-shaped, formed by the close association of the two monomer units. In shape and size, it bears a striking resemblance to the concanavalin A dimer, in which monomers combine to form a dimer-wide contiguous antiparallel pleated sheet.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011487	Protein Conformation	The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain).	Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D002846	Chromatography, Affinity	A chromatographic technique that utilizes the ability of biological molecules, often ANTIBODIES, to bind to certain ligands specifically and reversibly. It is used in protein biochemistry. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Chromatography, Bioaffinity,Immunochromatography,Affinity Chromatography,Bioaffinity Chromatography
D003208	Concanavalin A	A MANNOSE/GLUCOSE binding lectin isolated from the jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis). It is a potent mitogen used to stimulate cell proliferation in lymphocytes, primarily T-lymphocyte, cultures.
D013329	Structure-Activity Relationship	The relationship between the chemical structure of a compound and its biological or pharmacological activity. Compounds are often classed together because they have structural characteristics in common including shape, size, stereochemical arrangement, and distribution of functional groups.	Relationship, Structure-Activity,Relationships, Structure-Activity,Structure Activity Relationship,Structure-Activity Relationships
D014961	X-Ray Diffraction	The scattering of x-rays by matter, especially crystals, with accompanying variation in intensity due to interference effects. Analysis of the crystal structure of materials is performed by passing x-rays through them and registering the diffraction image of the rays (CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, X-RAY). (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Xray Diffraction,Diffraction, X-Ray,Diffraction, Xray,Diffractions, X-Ray,Diffractions, Xray,X Ray Diffraction,X-Ray Diffractions,Xray Diffractions
D037102	Lectins	Proteins that share the common characteristic of binding to carbohydrates. Some ANTIBODIES and carbohydrate-metabolizing proteins (ENZYMES) also bind to carbohydrates, however they are not considered lectins. PLANT LECTINS are carbohydrate-binding proteins that have been primarily identified by their hemagglutinating activity (HEMAGGLUTININS). However, a variety of lectins occur in animal species where they serve diverse array of functions through specific carbohydrate recognition.	Animal Lectin,Animal Lectins,Isolectins,Lectin,Isolectin,Lectin, Animal,Lectins, Animal
D037121	Plant Lectins	Protein or glycoprotein substances of plant origin that bind to sugar moieties in cell walls or membranes. Some carbohydrate-metabolizing proteins (ENZYMES) from PLANTS also bind to carbohydrates, however they are not considered lectins. Many plant lectins change the physiology of the membrane of BLOOD CELLS to cause agglutination, mitosis, or other biochemical changes. They may play a role in plant defense mechanisms.	Lectins, Plant,Phytagglutinin,Plant Agglutinin,Plant Lectin,Agglutinins, Plant,Phytagglutinins,Plant Agglutinins,Agglutinin, Plant,Lectin, Plant