ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2009
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2009 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
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.
Accepted 15 June, 2009
Abstract
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.