Isolation and characterization of a lectin from the cephalochordate Branchiostoma lanceolatum (Pallas).

1. A lectin was isolated from an extract of Branchiostoma lanceolatum by affinity chromatography using an asialo-A-peptone-cellulose column. 2 The lectin is a glycoprotein with a carbohydrate content of 2.7%. The mol. wt is 392,000 +/- 28,000. Two subunits of identical size (183,000 +/- 3000) are linked by non-covalent bonds. 3. The lectin agglutinates a variety of erythrocytes including human A, B, O red blood cells as well as human lymphocytes. 4. Hemagglutination activity is inhibited best by N,N',N"-triacetylchitotriose, followed by N,N'-diacetylchitobiose, which is half as inhibitory. 5. Lectin activity is constant between pH 5 and 10. Divalent cations are not required for binding reactions. Activity is totally destroyed by heating to 60 degrees C for 30 min. 6. The lectin is precipitated from the extract by 30-40% ammonium sulfate saturation.