Comparison of the Amino Acid Sequences of Lectins from the Seeds of Dioclea Reflexa and Canavalia Ensiformis

The amino acid sequence of a glucose/mannose specific lectin from the seeds of Dioclea reflexa (Dioclea reflexa agglutinin II; DRA-II) was determined by sequential Edman analyses of the intact subunit; and of the peptides derived from the protein by enzymatic digestion with trypsin. This sequence was found to be very similar to those of the lectins from other Dioclea species; Dioclea grandiflora and Dioclea lehmanii; and also the lectin from Canavalia ensiformis (Con A). Comparison of these amino acid sequences showed that a high degree of homology exists among these proteins

Etude de l'activite hemagglutinante des lectines extraites des graines de la flore malienne

Les lectines sont des substances proteiques extraits de plantes ou d'animaux. Certaines ont des activites agglutinantes sur les hematies humaines. Existe-t-il dans la flore malienne des plantes contenant des lectines a activite hemagglutinante ? Notre but dans ce travail etait d'extraire; purifier et verifier l'activite hemagglutinante des lectines venant de quatre plantes de la flore malienne : Erythrina senegalensis Abrus precatorius ; Cassia sieberiana ; Prosopis africana. L'extraction par broyage et maceration a ete suivie de purification par precipitation au sulfate d'ammonium a 50p.100. Les extraits purifies ont eu avant dilution un effet de polyagglutinabilite sur les hematies de tous les groupes sanguins du systeme ABO. Mais apres des dilutions successives seul l'extrait d'Erythrina senegalensis agglutine les hematies de groupe O a la dilution au 1/500 dans du NaCl 0;90/00. Cette agglutination a pu etre inhibee par la salive des sujets secretaire; mais aucun des sucres simples testes n'a pu inhiber l'agglutination. Il y a donc de continuer a rechercher la specificite de l'agglutinine extraite de Erythrina senegalensis

Diagnostic Potentials of the Reactivities of Lectins with whole Cells of Three Bacterial Diarrheagenic Agents : Aeromonas; Plesiomonas and Campylobacter

The reactivities of strains of Plesionmona shigeloides; Campylobater jejuni; Campylobacter coli and Aeromonas species with some lectins namely Soyabean agglutinin (SBA); Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA); Peanut agllutinin (PNA); Cancanavalin-A (Con-A); Lima bean agglutinin (LMA) and Abrin were investigated using the microtitre plate method. The results obtained show that all stains of A. hydrophila; A. caviae; A. Sobria and P. shigelloides reacted very strongly with PNA and SBA. All strains of C. jejuni studied failed to react with SBA but reacted with PNA Whereas C. coli did not show any reaction towards PNA but reacted very strongly with SBA. All strains of the different organisms were strongly agglutinated by RCA and LMA except A. Hydrophilia and A. sobria which did not react with RCA and LMA respectively. C. jejuni was not agglutinated by Con-A unlike C. coli. Only C. jejuni; C. coli and P. shigelloides reacted with abrin. This study suggests that the reactivities of lectins with the diarrheogenic bacteria studied may be used for their presumptive identifications and for epidemiological purposes