Complete primary structure of a newly characterized galactose-specific lectin from the seeds of Dolichos lablab

Comprehensive analysis of α 2-3-linked sialic acid specific Maackia amurensis leukagglutinin reveals differentially occupied N-glycans and C-terminal processing

Seeds of Maackia amurensis constitutes two sialic acid specific agglutinins known as leukagglutinin and hemagglutinin. Maackia amurensis leukagglutinin (MAL) recognizes α2-3-linked sialic acid present mainly in N-glycans and composed of two disulfide linked monomers. It exhibits potential N-glycosylation sites (four PNGs) which have been assumed to undergo differential occupancy. In this study we have characterized the site specific macro- and microheterogeneity of monomers in detail by analysing N-glycopeptides and peptides through liquid chromatography coupled to ion trap mass spectrometer in MS³ mode (LC-MSⁿ). We observed the presence of mainly paucimannose N-glycans at Asn₆₁, Asn₁₁₃ and Asn₁₉₁ whereas a high mannose type with varying Man_5-9 occurs at Asn₁₇₉. Interestingly Asn₁₇₉ and Asn₁₉₁ exhibited differential occupancy which was evident by the presence of non-glycosylated peptides. This has contributed to the difference in molecular mass of monomers upon SDS-PAGE. Further the presence of disulfide linked peptides confirmed the covalent linkage of monomers which also undergoes uniform C-terminal processing.

Affinity of a galactose-specific legume lectin from Dolichos lablab to adenine revealed by X-ray cystallography

Crystal structure analysis of a galactose-specific lectin from a leguminous food crop Dolichos lablab (Indian lablab beans) has been carried out to obtain insights into its quaternary association and lectin-carbohydrate interactions. The analysis led to the identification of adenine binding sites at the dimeric interfaces of the heterotetrameric lectin. Structural details of similar adenine binding were reported in only one legume lectin, Dolichos biflorus, before this study. Here, we present the structure of the galactose-binding D. lablab lectin at different pH values in the native form and in complex with galactose and adenine. This first structure report on this lectin also provides a high resolution atomic view of legume lectin-adenine interactions. The tetramer has two canonical and two DB58-like interfaces. The binding of adenine, a non-carbohydrate ligand, is found to occur at four hydrophobic sites at the core of the tetramer at the DB58-like dimeric interfaces and does not interfere with the carbohydrate-binding site. To support the crystallographic observations, the adenine binding was further quantified by carrying out isothermal calorimetric titration. By this method, we not only estimated the affinity of the lectin to adenine but also showed that adenine binds with negative cooperativity in solution.

Isolation and determination of the primary structure of a lectin protein from the serum of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Mass spectrometry in conjunction with de novo sequencing was used to determine the amino acid sequence of a 35kDa lectin protein isolated from the serum of the American alligator that exhibits binding to mannose. The protein N-terminal sequence was determined using Edman degradation and enzymatic digestion with different proteases was used to generate peptide fragments for analysis by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS). Separate analysis of the protein digests with multiple enzymes enhanced the protein sequence coverage. De novo sequencing was accomplished using MASCOT Distiller and PEAKS software and the sequences were searched against the NCBI database using MASCOT and BLAST to identify homologous peptides. MS analysis of the intact protein indicated that it is present primarily as monomer and dimer in vitro. The isolated 35kDa protein was ~98% sequenced and found to have 313 amino acids and nine cysteine residues and was identified as an alligator lectin. The alligator lectin sequence was aligned with other lectin sequences using DIALIGN and ClustalW software and was found to exhibit 58% and 59% similarity to both human and mouse intelectin-1. The alligator lectin exhibited strong binding affinities toward mannan and mannose as compared to other tested carbohydrates.