Lycopersicon esculentum Lectin (LEL, Tomato Lectin, TL) (Agarose)

Tomato lectin is a very stable glycoprotein containing about 50 percent arabinose and galactose. This lectin is composed of a single polypeptide of about 100,000D that may form aggregates in solution. Like other lectins that bind N-acetylglucosamine oligomers, tomato lectin prefers trimers and tetramers of this sugar. Tomato lectin, although sharing some specificities with potato, Datura lectin and wheat germ agglutinin, has been reported to be dissimilar in many respects. Tomato lectin binds well to such glycoproteins as glycophorin and Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein. Agarose bound Lycopersicon Esculentum (Tomato) Lectin is prepared from affinity-purified lectin. Heat stable, cross-linked 4% agarose beads with a molecular weight exclusion limit of about 2x10e7 are used as the solid-phase matrix to which the lectin is covalently bound. The attachment of the lectin to the solid phase is carefully controlled in order to preserve the activity of the lectin as well as to minimize conformational changes of the bound lectin which might result in nonspecific ionic or hydrophobic interactions. The technique developed to couple lectins to agarose provides a very hydrophilic spacer arm between the protein and the matrix. This ensures maximum expression of the carbohydrate binding activity of the lectin. The linkage is very stable over a range of pH values and, unlike cyanogen bromide linkages, proteins are not leached off the gel by Tris or other routinely used buffers. In addition, residual charges generated during cyanogen bromide conjugation which can produce nonspecific binding are not present on the gel following our coupling procedure. Applications: Suitable for use in ELISA. Other applications not tested. Recommended Dilution: Optimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher. Inhibiting/Eluting Sugar: Chitin Hydrolysate 2mg lectin/ml gel Activity: 2x10e7 Storage and Stability: May be stored at 4 degrees C. For long-term storage, aliquot and store at 4 degrees C. Do not freeze. Aliquots are stable for 6 months. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial prior to removing the cap. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer.