Abstract
Lectin are proteins which play an important role in the defence mechanisms of plants against the attack of microorganisms and insects: this role has provoked particular interest in the -elds of biotechnology and agriculture. ;is paper describes the extraction and puri-cation of the lectin found in tubers of the winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), with the aim of improving and modernising the existing extraction protocol. ;e Eranthis hyemalis lectin (EHL) is a member of the type-2 Ribosome Inactivating Proteins (RIP) family, proteins which have the ability to inhibit in vitro protein synthesis. RIPs have been linked to plant defence by their antiviral, a ntifungal and insecticidal properties, and some have been found to be potent inhibitors of the Human Immunode-ciency Virus-1 (HIV-1) virus. EHL was puri-ed using aQnity column chro matography and ammonium sulphate precipitation; thiourea was used as antioxidant in order to prevent EHL denaturing during the extraction process. ;e presence of EHL in the extract was veri-ed using a blood agglutination test with rabbit erythrocytes. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis was employed to determine the lectin size; EHL was found to be formed of two chains with molecular weights of approximately 31 kDa; the size of the whole protein was estimated as approximately 60 kDa. ;e concentration of the EHL in the post-column eluent, determined using the Bradford Assay, was 380.1 μg.cm -3 . ;is improved extraction protocol is the -rst step which will enable future research on the potential use of EHL in crop protection, by studying its insecticidal, fungicidal and bactericidal properties.
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