This derivative has been reported to have properties distinct from the native lectin. Evidence suggests that Succinylated Wheat Germ agglutinin does not bind to sialic acid residues, unlike the native form, but retains its specificity toward N-acetylglucosamine. Using conjugates of the native lectin and the succinylated form can provide a system to distinguish between sialylated glycoconjugates and those containing only N-acetylglucosamine structures. Agarose bound*, succinylated WGA is prepared using our affinity-purified lectins. Heat stable, cross-linked 4% agarose beads with a molecular weight exclusion limit of about 2x107 daltons are used as the solid-phase matrix to which the lectins are covalently coupled. The attachment of the lectins to the beads is carefully controlled to preserve lectin activity and minimize conformational changes of the bound lectins that might result in nonspecific ionic or hydrophobic interactions. The technique we have developed to couple lectins to agarose beads inserts a hydrophilic spacer arm between the lectin and the matrix. Our agarose bound lectins are supplied at a constant concentration of lectin per ml of settled beads. The concentration for each lectin is selected to achieve the highest glycoconjugate binding capacity per mg of lectin present in the beads. Each lot is tested for its binding capacity using glycoproteins known to bind the lectin. This provides a guideline for the user and assures the quality of our agarose bound lectins.
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