The phytohemagglutinin from sunn hemp seeds ( Crotalaria juncea). Purification by biospecific affinity chromatography

Abstract

The anti-galactose lectin from sunn hemp seeds was isolated from a clarified and dialyzed crude extract by biospecific affinity chromatography on a galactan gel prepared by acid treatment of agarose gel beads. The purified lectin gave a single peak on Sephadex G-200 gel filtration with an elution volume corresponding to a molecular weight of 120 000. The lectin contained about 5% firmly bound carbohydrate (orcinol method). The agglutinating reaction with red cells was inhibited by sugars containing galactose residues.