Canatoxin-, concanavalin A- and canavalin-cross-reactive materials during maturation of Canavalia brasiliensis (Mart.) seeds.

The distribution of three cross-reactive materials (CRMs), a toxic protein analogous to canatoxin, CNTX-CRM, a lectin analogous to concanavalin A, Con A-CRM, and a major storage protein, canavalin-CRM, was investigated during successive stages of maturation of Canavalia brasiliensis Mart. seeds. The data obtained by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunological analyses indicated that these proteins share extensive homology with the analogous proteins found in Canavalia ensiformis seeds. The changes in CNTX-CRM and Con A-CRM levels throughout the maturation process were assayed by rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Synthesis of Con A-CRM was detectable at 30 days post-anthesis (DPA) while its hemagglutinating activity appeared only at 35 DPA. The CNTX-CRM was detected as a biologically active protein from 30 DPA onwards. The behavior of CNTX-CRM during maturation of C. brasiliensis seeds was quite distinct from that of Con A-CRM, pointing to different biological roles of these proteins in the seed.