Interaction of pneumococcal S-14 polysaccharide with lectins from Ricinus communis, Triticum vulgaris, and bandeiraea simplicifolia

Abstract

Two purified lectins, namely, wheat-germ agglutinin (from Triticum vulgaris) and the hemagglutinin from Ricinus communis seeds, readily form a precipitate with pneumococcal S-14 polysaccharide, whereas the Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin (BS 1) does not. Exhaustive periodate oxidation and borohydride reduction of S 14 modifies terminal [beta]--galactopyranosyl residues, as well as chain -glucopyranosyl residues, and abolishes reactivity with both the R. communis lectin and wheat-germ agglutinin. Controlled periodate oxidation followed by Smith degradation cleaves only terminal [beta]--galactopyranosyl residues, giving a linear polymer, the structure of which was determined by methylation analysis. This derived polymer, containing (1-->6)-linked 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-[beta]--glucosyl residues, readily precipitated wheat-germ agglutinin, but not the R. communis lectin.