Biomaterial Database

Circular dichroism tests on the effect of alkali on conformation of lectins. 1980

B Jirgensons

The structural properties of eight lectins (agglutinins) were studied by the circular dichroism (CD) probe. The lectin from Maclura pomifera (osage orange seed) exhibited in the far-ultraviolet spectral zone a positive CD band centered at 201 nm, whereas the other lectins had positive bands at 195--198 nm. Structural transitions were effected by alkali, pH 9.6--11.9. Native M. pomifera lectin had a positive CD band also at 236 nm which shifted to the red and enhanced by alkali. Significant individual differences in resistance to the denaturing effect of alkali were observed even between the lectins the CD spectra of which were similar in neutral solutions. The CD spectrum of the lectin from Wistaria floribunda was similar to the CD spectrum of the Dolichos biflorus lectin, but the former was much less sensitive to alkali than the latter. The CD spectra of the native lectins from soybean (Glycine max) and the erythroagglutinin from kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) also were similar, yet the former was denatured at pH 10.6--11.6, whereas the CD of the latter was affected very little. The tertiary structures of the lectins from D. biflorus, the Sophora japonica and the fucose binding lectin from Tetragonolobus purpureas were more sensitive to alkali than those of the other lectins. While the CD bands at 270--300 nm, related to the tyrosine and tryptophan chromophores are generally diminished on denaturation, in the D. biflorus and S. japonica lectins these bands were enhanced at pH 9.6--10.6. In more strongly alkaline solutions, a new CD band developed at 248--252 nm. The main polypeptide chain was more or less completely disorganized at the very high pH values.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007887	Fabaceae	The large family of plants characterized by pods. Some are edible and some cause LATHYRISM or FAVISM and other forms of poisoning. Other species yield useful materials like gums from ACACIA and various LECTINS like PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININS from PHASEOLUS. Many of them harbor NITROGEN FIXATION bacteria on their roots. Many but not all species of "beans" belong to this family.	Afzelia,Amorpha,Andira,Baptisia,Callerya,Ceratonia,Clathrotropis,Colophospermum,Copaifera,Delonix,Euchresta,Guibourtia,Legumes,Machaerium,Pithecolobium,Stryphnodendron,Leguminosae,Pea Family,Pithecellobium,Tachigalia,Families, Pea,Family, Pea,Legume,Pea Families
D010835	Phytohemagglutinins	Mucoproteins isolated from the kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris); some of them are mitogenic to lymphocytes, others agglutinate all or certain types of erythrocytes or lymphocytes. They are used mainly in the study of immune mechanisms and in cell culture.	Kidney Bean Lectin,Kidney Bean Lectins,Lectins, Kidney Bean,Phaseolus vulgaris Lectin,Phaseolus vulgaris Lectins,Phytohemagglutinin,Hemagglutinins, Plant,Lectin, Kidney Bean,Lectin, Phaseolus vulgaris,Lectins, Phaseolus vulgaris,Plant Hemagglutinins
D010944	Plants	Multicellular, eukaryotic life forms of kingdom Plantae. Plants acquired chloroplasts by direct endosymbiosis of CYANOBACTERIA. They are characterized by a mainly photosynthetic mode of nutrition; essentially unlimited growth at localized regions of cell divisions (MERISTEMS); cellulose within cells providing rigidity; the absence of organs of locomotion; absence of nervous and sensory systems; and an alternation of haploid and diploid generations. It is a non-taxonomical term most often referring to LAND PLANTS. In broad sense it includes RHODOPHYTA and GLAUCOPHYTA along with VIRIDIPLANTAE.	Plant
D010946	Plants, Medicinal	Plants whose roots, leaves, seeds, bark, or other constituent parts possess therapeutic, tonic, purgative, curative or other pharmacologic attributes, when administered to man or animals.	Herbs, Medicinal,Medicinal Herbs,Healing Plants,Medicinal Plants,Pharmaceutical Plants,Healing Plant,Herb, Medicinal,Medicinal Herb,Medicinal Plant,Pharmaceutical Plant,Plant, Healing,Plant, Medicinal,Plant, Pharmaceutical,Plants, Healing,Plants, Pharmaceutical
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
D011489	Protein Denaturation	Disruption of the non-covalent bonds and/or disulfide bonds responsible for maintaining the three-dimensional shape and activity of the native protein.	Denaturation, Protein,Denaturations, Protein,Protein Denaturations
D002942	Circular Dichroism	A change from planar to elliptic polarization when an initially plane-polarized light wave traverses an optically active medium. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Circular Dichroism, Vibrational,Dichroism, Circular,Vibrational Circular Dichroism
D006863	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration	The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH	pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
D000468	Alkalies	Usually a hydroxide of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium or cesium, but also the carbonates of these metals, ammonia, and the amines. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Alkali,Alkalis
D013025	Glycine max	An annual legume. The SEEDS of this plant are edible and used to produce a variety of SOY FOODS.	Soy Beans,Soybeans,Bean, Soy,Beans, Soy,Soy Bean,Soybean