EFFECT OF CHEMICAL MODIFICATIONS OF PHASEOLUS-VULGARIS LECTINS ON THEIR BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Two fractions with agglutinating activity, F-I and F-II, were isolated from Jalo beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). The effect of chemical modifica tion on biological activity was studied in fraction F-I. Polyacrylamid e gel electrophoresis showed that fraction F-I migrated more slowly to the anode and had higher agglutinating activity and toxicity, whereas fraction F-II migrated more quickly toward the anode and had lower ag glutinating activity and toxicity. Both fractions lost their agglutina ting activity and maintained their toxicity after modification df amin o groups. Tryptophan oxidation with N-bromosuccinimide eliminated the agglutinating, mitogenic, and toxic activities of the two fractions.