Narcissus pseudonarcissus Lectin (NPL/NPA) - Colloidal Gold

Product Description

Narcissus pseudonarcissus lectin or agglutinin (NPL/NPA) is affinity purified composed of four subunits. It agglutinates rabbit erythrocytes but is non-reactive with human erythrocytes. NPA has an isoelectric point between pH 4.2 and pH 4.6 with a specific binding activity toward α-D-mannose, although studies have suggested that the purified lectin may have greater affinity for internal mannosyl residues than for nonreducing terminal units. A buffer washed column elutes the sugar α-methylmannoside.

Human studies have found NPA to be nearly non-mitogenic, but it has been reported through an in vitro study that mitogenicity of NPA is age-related, with lymphoproliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in umbilical cord blood has a sevenfold increase than adult blood. NPA has also been found to be mitogenic for PBMC from lambs and not adult sheep.

Colloidal gold can be used to visualize localization of specific saccharide moieties and examine the distribution of plasma membrane glycoproteins based on the binding pattern of Narcissus pseudonarcissus Lectin (NPL/NPA). Colloidal gold labeled lectins can be viewed via electron microscopy.