Comparative biochemical analysis of lectin and nuclease from Chelidonium majus L.

It has been recently recognized that lectins exhibit other activities besid es hemagglutination. Previously we have found that purified lectin from Che lidonium majus showed DNase activity (Fik, Gozdzicka-Jozefiak & Kedzia, 199 5, Herba Polon. 41, 84-95), Comparison of lectin and DNase from the sap fro m leaves and roots of Chelidonium majus proved that both these compounds ar e composed of 24 kDa monomer subunits which have an identical N-terminal se quence but differ in amino-acid composition and degree of glycosylation. Po ssible interrelationship between lectin and DNase is discussed.