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Purification of a
mannose/glucose-specific lectin with antifungal activity
from pepper seeds (Capsicum annuum)
Adenike Kuku*, Oludele Odekanyin, Kemi Adeniran, Mary
Adewusi and Toyin Olonade
Department of Biochemistry,
Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
adenikekuku@yahoo.com
,
akuku@oauife.edu.ng . Tel:
+234 -8062535240
Accepted
15 June,
2009 |
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A lectin
was isolated and purified from the pepper seeds Capsicum
annuum. The purification procedure involved anionic
exchange chromatography on DEAE – Cellulose and QAE –
Sephadex columns followed by gel filtration on Sephadex
G–100. The heamagglutinating activity of the lectin towards
human erythrocytes was sensitive to inhibition by D-mannose
and D-glucose; and enhancement by CaCl2 and MgCl2.
The lectin activity was enhanced at very high acidic pH,
inhibited at high basic pH but stable at physiological pH
range of 6- 8. The lectin was heat stable up to 30°C.
SDS-PAGE of the purified lectin
revealed the presence of single band of 25
kDa. The lectin was capable of inhibiting the germination of
spores and hyphal growth in the fungi Aspergillus
niger,
Aspergillus flavus, Fuscarium solani
and
Fuscarium graminearum.
Key words:
Lectin, pepper, seeds, antifungal, glucose, mannose. |
