USE OF THE AVIDIN-BIOTIN COMPLEX FOR SPECIFIC IMMOBILIZATION OF XYLOGLUCAN POLYSACCHARIDES

Several xyloglucan polysaccharides were biotinylated through their gal actosyl residues, by combination of partial galactose oxidation and bi otinamidocaproylhydrazide coupling. They were shown to easily bind to avidin activated ELISA plates by specific recognition of plant lectins Ulex europeaus (UEA-I) and Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA-I). Subse quent chemical reduction of aldehyde groups after biotinylation was sh own to improve immobilisation. UEA-I bound to cell wall xyloglucan but not to tamarind seed xyloglucan, due to the lack of fucose in the lat ter. RCA-I bound to all xyloglucans we tested, however, a higher affin ity was observed with seed xyloglucan, suggesting it specifically clus ters with the polysaccharide. The usefulness of using biotinylated xyl oglucans for antibodies characterization was investigated.