Surface-based and mass spectrometric approaches to deciphering sugar-protein interactions in a galactose-specific agglutinin

Anal Chem. 2012 Aug 7;84(15):6515-20. doi: 10.1021/ac300766z. Epub 2012 Jul 13.

Abstract

Interest in powerful, nanosized tools to analyze in detail glycan-protein interactions has increased significantly over recent years. Here, we report two complementary approaches to characterize such interactions with high sensitivity, low sample consumption, and without the need for sample labeling, namely, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and an approach that combines limited proteolysis and mass spectrometry. Combination of these two approaches to investigate glycan-protein interactions allows (1) to characterize interactions through kinetic and thermodynamic parameters, (2) to capture efficiently the carbohydrate-binding protein, and (3) to identify the interacted protein and its carbohydrate binding site by mass spectrometry. As a proof of principle, the interaction of the galactose-specific legume lectin Erythrina cristagalli agglutinin with several sugars has been characterized in-depth by means of these two approaches.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Galactose / chemistry
  • Galactose / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Plant Lectins / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Plant Lectins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • erythrina lectin
  • saccharide-binding proteins
  • Galactose