Lectin from Phytolacca americana (pokeweed)

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins, omnipresent, found in fungi, plants and animals. The structure of lectin is diversely studied in plants and animals. The secondary structure of this protein is rich in β-strands and possesses a carbohydrate binding sites on the surface.

Lectin from Phytolacca americana (pokeweed) has been used:

• as a medium supplement for mononuclear cell incubation, to induce lymphocyte proliferation
• as a positive control in the study of the role of chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) in proliferation and apoptosis of decidual leukocytes
• as a supplement in the RPMI (Roswell park memorial institute) 1640 medium for peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures

Lectin is known to be useful in glycoconjugate characterizing, imaging and targeting. Its use in microarray assay, enable efficient glycome profiling. This is because of its specific interaction with oligosaccharides, glycoproteins and glycolipids. In plants and fungi, lectin defends against pathogens/feeders. Lectin participates in host recognition and tissue adhesion, thereby aids in the pathogenesis of microorganism.

PWM is extracted from pokeweed roots. This protein has hemagglutinating, leukoagglutinating, and mitogenic properties. PWM is not blood group specific, but has affinity for N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine oligomers.

Partially purified TCA precipitate.
Essentially salt-free.

Mitogenic activity was determined by BrdU incorporation in HeLa cell cultures.