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. 1972 May;22(5):871–883.

The immunological and physicochemical properties of mitogenic proteins derived from Phaseolus vulgaris

S Yachnin, R H Svenson
PMCID: PMC1407857  PMID: 4623260

Abstract

A commercially available phytohaemagglutinin derived from Phaseolus vulgaris (PHAP) was subjected to CM Sephadex and Sephadex G-150 chromatography. Two major mitogenic fractions were isolated; one (L-PHAP), appeared homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and was virtually lacking in haemagglutinating activity, while the other (H-PHAP) was a potent haemagglutinin. H-PHAP was a complex material as shown by its behaviour on CM Sephadex chromatography. Electrophoretic analysis revealed three distinct bands of protein, all migrating cathodally to L-PHAP. With increasing cathodal mobility H-PHAP subfractions showed diminishing mitogenicity, increasing haemagglutinating potency, and the appearance of the ability to precipitate serum proteins non-specifically. The latter property, present in crude PHAP, was not displayed by L-PHAP. The mitogenic activity of all H-PHAP subfractions was potentiated by the presence of autologous red blood cells.

While L- and H-PHAP were closely related by immunological criteria, distinct differences were noted by three methods of analysis. The most cathodal of the H-PHAP subfractions was found to be immunodeficient by comparison with crude PHAP, L-PHAP, and the remaining H-PHAP subfractions. The implications of these findings with respect to the biological activity of PHAP and to its subunit structure are discussed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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