Isolation and properties of three lectins from mistletoe (Viscum album L.)

Biochem J. 1981 May 1;195(2):481-4. doi: 10.1042/bj1950481.

Abstract

Three lectins have been isolated from an extract of mistletoe (Viscum album) by affinity chromatography on partially hydrolysed Sepharose and human immunoglobulin- Sepharose. The lectins differ in molecular weight and sugar specificity (lectin I, mol.wt. 11500, D-galactose-specific; lectin II, mol.wt. 60000, both D-galactose- and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-specific; lectin III, mol. wt. 50000, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-specific). All three lectins react with human erythrocytes without specificity for the A, B, and O blood groups. In contrast with abrin and ricin the mistletoe lectins cannot be divided into "toxins" and "haemagglutinins".

MeSH terms

  • Carbohydrates / pharmacology
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Hemagglutination / drug effects
  • Lectins / isolation & purification*
  • Lectins / pharmacology
  • Mercaptoethanol / pharmacology
  • Mistletoe / analysis
  • Molecular Weight
  • Plant Lectins
  • Plants, Medicinal

Substances

  • Carbohydrates
  • Lectins
  • Plant Lectins
  • Mercaptoethanol