Carbohydrate-dependent hemolytic activity of the conjugate composed of a C-type lectin, CEL-I, and an amphiphilic alpha-helical peptide, 4(3)-beta Ala2.

A lectin-cationic peptide conjugate, 4(3)-CEL-I, was prepared from an invertebrate C-type lectin, CEL-I, and an amphiphilic alpha-helical peptide, 4(3)-beta Ala2 [Ac-(Leu-Ala-Arg-Leu)3-beta Ala2]. When 4(3)-CEL-I was incubated with rabbit erythrocytes, hemolysis was observed, especially at basic pH. Inhibition experiment using some carbohydrates suggested that hemolytic activity of 4(3)-CEL-I was caused by the interaction between 4(3)-beta Ala2 portion in the conjugate and the lipid bilayer after binding to the carbohydrate chains on the cell surface by the lectin activity of CEL-I.