Jacalin is a lectin present in the seeds of the Jackfruit, Artocarpus integrifolia. Recent papers 1,2 reported that Jacalin specifically bound human secretory IgA and that this lectin could be used to sepa- rate human IgA from other serum glycoproteins, including other immunoglobulin classes, and that agarose bound Jacalin could be used to separate IgA1 and IgA2. Recently affinity purified Jacalin. Preliminary investigation shows it to have a molecular weight of approximately 60,000 with a rather complex subunit structure. In addition to confirming its affinity toward galactose, we have examined the specificity of this lectin toward several glycoproteins. Using glycoproteins of known carbohydrate structure, we can now provide some information on the structural requirements of the oligosaccharide for binding Jacalin. First determined that fetuin, a glycoprotein present in fetal bovine serum, would bind to Jacalin covalently attached to agarose. Fetuin, however, contains two types of oligosaccharides, those linked N-glycosidically to asparagine and those attached by O-glycosidic linkage to serine or threonine. Another glycoprotein, which contains an N-glycosidically linked oligosaccharide similar to fetuin is alpha1 acid glycoprotein. However, neither native alpha1 acid glycoprotein nor the desialylated form bound to Jacalin. This indicated that Jacalin does not bind galactosyl (B 1-3,4) N-acetylglucosamine, the terminating sequence in the oligosaccharide of alpha1 acid glycoprotein. The O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharide in fetuin consists of galactose (B 1-3) N-acetylgalacto-samine, with sialic acid substitutions on the 3 position of galactose and the 6 position of N-acetylgalactosamine. To determine if sialic acid was required for binding we tested asialofetuin. The desialylated form of fetuin bound equally well, showing that binding was not dependent on the presence of the sialic acid residues. Removal of galactose from the N-acetylgalactosamine residue of fetuin reduced but did not abolish the ability to bind to Jacalin, indicating the N-acetylgalactosamine is an important part of the carbohydrate structure required for binding. Studies are underway to further characterize these structural requirements.

Small volumes of Artocarpus integrifolia lectin vial(s) may occasionally become entrapped in the seal of the product vial during shipment and storage. If necessary, briefly centrifuge the vial on a tabletop centrifuge to dislodge any liquid in the container`s cap. Certain products may require to ship with dry ice and additional dry ice fee may apply.

MBS656816 is a lectin targeting Artocarpus integrifolia. Also known as Artocarpus integrifolia (Jacalin, Jackfruit) (FITC).