Isolation and funectional characterization of a mitogenic lection from the marine sponge Cinachyrella alloclada

ABSTRACT

1. A D-galactose-specific lectin was isolated from crude extracts of the marine sponge Cinachyrella alloclada by affinity chromatography on sepharose 4B. 2. The lectin agglutinated human erythrocytes irrespective of ther ABO group antigens. 3. Hemagglutination inhibition tests indicated that the lectin binds D-galactose or carbohydrates having a terminal nonreducing D-galactosyl group. 4. C. alloclada lectin was mitogenic for human periheral blood lymphocytes when AB serum was omitted during the first 24 h of culture. 5 Human serum apparently contains substances which bind or inactivate this lectin