Production of functional lectin in Pichia pastoris directed by cloned cDNA from Aleuria aurantia.

A plasmid bearing a nucleotide sequence of fucose-specific lectin of Aleuria aurantia was constructed and expressed in a methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris. The product showed almost the same hemagglutinating activity as the lectin produced in Escherichia coli, the properties of which were quite similar to the native one. Because of glycosylation of the product, the molecular mass was larger than that of the native one, and it acquired higher thermostability.