Concanavalin A from Canavalia ensiformis (Jack bean)

Description

• General description: Concanavalin A (Con A), isolated from Jack beans (Canavalia ensiformis), is a mannose or glucose specific-binding lectin.[1] The lectin is a tetramer and each subunit possesses a saccharide-binding site.[2] Con A can be isolated by affinity chromatography with dextrans.[1]
• Application: Concanavalin A (Con A) has been used for enzyme immobilization.[3][4][5]
• Biochem/physiol Actions: Concanavalin A (Con A) is a T cell mitogen that can activate the lymphocytes.[6]Con A can induce tumor cell death through autophagy.[7]
• Physical form: Suspension in 1.0 M NaCl + 0.1 M potassium phosphate, pH 6.0, with 1 mM CaCl2, 1 mM MgCl2 and 1 mM MnCl2 containing preservative
• Analysis Note: Where reported, agglutination activity is expressed in μg/ml and is determined from serial dilutions in phosphate buffered saline, pH 6.8, containing Ca2+ and Mn2+ of a 1 mg per mL solution. This activity is the lowest concentration to agglutinate a 2% suspension of human erythrocytes after 1 hr incubation at 25 °C.