Physicochemical properties of Lectin from the medicinal plant Calycopteris floribunda (Roxb.) Lam that agglutinate microbial cells

Authors :

Surya P H, Gajala Parween, Elyas K K

 Abstract:

Calycopteris floribunda (Roxb) Lamleaf extract showed high lectin activity. The lectin was precipitated at high percentage
saturation of ammonium sulphate to give a titre value 3277 haemagglutination units per mg of protein. Partial purification of the precipitated fraction on DEAE anion exchange chromatography gave only 0.63 fold purification. Among the tested sugars, mannitol was found to be more inhibitory to hemagglutination activity at a concentration of 11.7 mM.Lectin activity was found to be stable upto 80  ̊C beyond which there is a complete loss of agglutination. The lectin was found to be more stable at pH range, 8 to10. Denaturing agents showed a decrease in lectin activity. The purified lectin could agglutinate both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria but it was unable to inhibit bacterial growth as determined by disc diffusion assay. The agglutination could be inhibited by either mannitol or glucose or both confirming that the lectin is binding to these sugars or their structural analogs on the bacterial surface.