Transient appearance and localization of a 26-kDa lectin, a novel member of the Periplaneta lectin family, in regenerating cockroach leg.

A lectin consisting of a 26-kDa subunit was purified from the hemolymph of adult American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) and shown to be a member of the Periplaneta lectin family. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that this lectin appeared transiently in regenerating legs after nymphal legs were amputated. Thus, its mode of appearance was similar to that of regenectin, another member of the Periplaneta lectin family. However, its time of appearance and localization in the regenerates were different from those of regenectin: the 26-kDa lectin appeared in regenerates in the middle stage of regeneration and was localized in the vicinity of the outside of newly formed epidermal cells. These results suggest that this lectin participates in the organization or stabilization of the epidermis during leg regeneration.