Isolation, Purify and Characterization of Lectin from the Seeds of Artocarpus Species

Aim: To isolate, partially purify and characterize lectin from the seeds of Artocarpus species - using ammonium sulphate, gel-filtration and ion exchange chromatography.

Methodology: ABO blood groups were screened for the assay of hemagglutinating property with seed lectins of both. heterophyllus and A. hirsutus. The seed lectins were extracted using suitable buffer system pH 7.0 and partially purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatographic techniques.

Results and Discussion: Lectins were extracted from the defatted seed powders of A. heterophyllus and A. hirsutus. The extracts were used for optimization of assay buffer for hemagglutination activity and 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.8 containing 1 mM CaCl2 and 1 mM MnCl2 showed greater hemagglutinating property. Screening for optimum concentration of RBCs from different blood group (A, B, AB and O groups) indicated O group at 10 % concentration as ideal for the assay of hemagglutinating property with seed lectins of both A. heterophyllus and A. hirsutus.

Conclusion: In this study, lectin from the seeds of Artocarpus heterophyllus and Artocarpus hirsutus were isolated and partially purified. The isolated lectins were characterized for their heamagglutination activity. Among the human blood types (A+, B+, AB+ and O+) used, all the blood groups showed agglutination while greater agglutination was observed with O+ blood group.