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Purification and Characterization of Griffonia simplicifolia Leaf Lectins ¹

Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Leaves from mature Griffonia simplicifolia plants were examined for the presence of leaf lectins possessing sugar binding specificities similar to the four known seed lectins (GS-I, GS-II, GS-III, GS-IV). Three (GS-I, -II, -IV) of the four known G. simplicifolia seed lectins were present in the leaves. Leaf G. simplicifolia lectins I and IV were similar to the respective seed lectins. Leaf GS-II, however, was composed of two types of subunits (M_r = 33,000 and 19,000), whereas the seed lectin consists of only one type of subunit (M_r 32,500). Seed and leaf GS-II lectins also had different isoelectric points. All leaf and seed lectins were similar with respect to their hemagglutination and glycoconjugate precipitation properties and all subunits contained covalently bound carbohydrate. Leaf GS-IV appeared slightly under-glycosylated compared to seed GS-IV.

The fate of GS-I and GS-II seed lectins in aging cotyledons was investigated. GS-I isolectins usually contain isolectin subtypes associated with each main isolectin. Upon inbibition and germination, these GS-I isolectin subtypes disappeared. Over time, GS-II lectin did not change its disc gel electrophoretic properties.

³ Present address: Osaka University Dental School, Nakanoshima, Kitaku, Osaka, Japan.

⁴ To whom reprints requested should be directed.

¹ Supported by grant GM 29470 from the National Institutes of Health. This work was part of a dissertation submitted by J. E. L. to the faculty of the University of Michigan in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Ph.D.