Presence of a low molecular weight lectin in the coelomic fluid of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus

Authors

  • F Drago Department of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • D Malagoli Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
  • F M Pezzino Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • V D’Urso Department of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • F Sammartano Department of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

Keywords:

Paracentrotus lividus, sea urchin;, lectin, immunity, stress

Abstract

A low molecular weight (MW) lectin (Paracentrotus lividus small lectin, PlSL) has been found in
the sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus. After gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, PlSL
exhibits a MW of 13 kDa, while its hemagglutinating activity is Ca2+-independent and inhibited by DGlucose, L-Rhamnose, D-Arabinose, L-Fucose and N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine. Electrophoretic analysis
of the coleomic fluid of P. lividus reveals that the presence of PlSL increases following immune
challenge with bacteria, whereas it is annulled as a consequence of osmotic stress. Interestingly, two
other putative inducible hemagglutinins of an approximate MW of 11 and 32 kDa were retrieved in
concomitance with the stress-promoted disappearance of PlSL.

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Published

2009-02-01

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2009)

Section

Research Reports