Concanavalin A from Canavalia ensiformis (Jack bean) 

Where reported, agglutination activity is expressed in μg/ml and is determined from serial dilutions in phosphate buffered saline, pH 6.8, containing Ca²⁺ and Mn²⁺ of a 1 mg per mL solution. This activity is the lowest concentration to agglutinate a 2% suspension of human erythrocytes after 1 hr incubation at 25 °C.

Con A is not blood group specific but has an affinity for terminal α-D-mannosyl and α-D-glucosyl residues. Ca²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions are required for activity. Con A dissociates into dimers at pH 5.6 or below. Between pH 5.8 and pH 7.0, Con A exists as a tetramer; above pH 7.0 higher aggregates are formed. Con A exhibits mitogenic activity which is dependent on its degree of aggregation. Succinylation results in an active dimeric form which remains a dimer above pH 5.6.

Suspension in 0.1 M acetate buffer, pH 6.0, containing 1 M NaCl, 1 mM Mn²⁺, 1 mM Ca²⁺, 1 mM Mg²⁺ and 0.01% thimerosal

Type V-A

buffered aqueous suspension

~10 mg per mL

4% beaded agarose

p-nitrophenyl chloroformate

1 atom

3-6 mg/mL binding capacity (yeast mannan)

agarose conjugate

2-8°C

Reeke, G.N., et al. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 234, 369, (1974)

Gunther, G.R., et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 70, 1012, (1973)

Kalb, A.J. and Lustig, A. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 168, 366, (1968)

, Bittiges, H. and Schnebli, H.P, ed. Concanavalin A as a Tool London , (1976)

Merck 13,2521

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