Isolation of a cytotoxic glycoprotein from the Scyphozoa Cyanea lamarckii by lectin-affinity chromatography and characterization of molecule interactions by surface plasmon resonance

Abstract

A biospecific lectin-affinity-based isolation process for a novel glycoprotein (ClGp1) from the venom of the pelagic jellyfish Cyanea lamarckii, is described and the isolated glycoprotein is chemically and biologically characterized according to size, molecular interaction and toxicity. The molecular mass of the isolated protein is 25.7 kDa as determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF). The carbohydrate content was calculated after enzymatic deglycosylation as 6.85 kDa. The glycoprotein is cytotoxic and could be isolated from cnidocysts of mesenteric and fishing tentacles. The binding behaviour of the glycoprotein to the lectins Concanavalin A (ConA) and Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA) was analyzed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and affinity constants in the range of KD = 3.0 × 10−7 M for ConA and 2.1 × 10−6 M (pH 5.0) and 2.6 × 10−6 M (pH 7.4) for WGA were obtained.