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

ABSTRACT

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