BIOCHEMICAL-PROPERTIES OF HEMAGGLUTININS IN THE MOLLUSK POMACEA-FLAGELLATA

Extracts of the Mollusk Pomacea flagellata were found to contain two a gglutinins (PFA-I and PFA-II) which reacted with erythrocytes from hum an and several animal species. The hemagglutinating activity was stabl e between pH 4.0 and pH 10.0, and was independent of divalent cations. The active components were purified and found to be glycoproteins hav ing Mr of 30,000. The isoelectric points were estimated to be 4.7 and 4.9 for PFA-I and PFA-II respectively. Hapten inhibition assays indica ted that the agglutinin and its isoforms are specific for beta-galacto sides as well as for galactose containing glycoproteins.