Sialic acid binding lectin of protozoan origin
AssigneeSouth Alabama Medical Science Foundation
InventorsFrank F. Pindak, David J. Wells, Pavol Demes
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Abstract
The present invention concerns lectins isolated from the genus Tritrichomonas which bind specifically to sialic acid. The invention further pertains to uses of such lectins, and to processes for their preparation. The invention is further drawn to neuraminidase, particularly from T. mobilensis.
Claims10
A method of identifying a lectin-binding region in a histological preparation comprising the steps of:
- (a) incubating a tissue section or cell preparation with a sialic acid-binding lectin isolated from a species belonging to the genus Tritrichomonas, substantially free of natural contaminants, or a polypeptide subset of the intact lectin molecule which retains the function of binding to sialic acid, substantially free of natural contaminants;
- (b) washing said tissue section or cell preparation to remove unbound material;
- (c) additionally incubating said tissue section or cell preparation with detectably labeled lectin-binding material;
- and
- (d) detecting bound detectably labeled lectin-binding material to visualize tissue- or cell-bound lectin.
A method for detecting the presence of sialic acid either free or associated with larger molecules in a biological fluid, comprising contacting said sialic acid-containing biological fluid with a detectably labeled sialic acid binding lectin isolated from a species belonging to the genus Tritrichomonas, or a detectably labeled polypeptide subset of the intact lectin molecule which retains the function of binding to sialic acid, and detecting binding of said sialic acid to said lectin or to said polypeptide subset of said lectin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.