Binding of biotinylated legume seed lectins with glycoproteins in blotted receptor-analogs: influence of incubation pH

SDS-PAGE and Western blotting of lectin inhibitors (bovine and porcine plas ma powder, whole egg powder and fetuin) was performed and blots were incuba ted with several biotinylated lectins commercially available (Phaseolus vul garis E, Pisum sativum, Lens culinaris, Vicia faba). In order to study the effect of pH on the binding of the lectins to glycoproteins present in the inhibitors, identical blots were incubated in buffers with different pH val ues, i.e. 3-7, respectively. Binding capacity of lectins to the glycoprotei ns in the inhibitors was very dependent on pH condition during incubation: for all the lectins involved in this experiment, pH values lower than 4 inh ibited the binding process considerably. Results are discussed taking into account the low pH values prevailing in the stomach of pigs. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.