Purification and Characterization of Echinonectin, a Carbohydrate‐Binding Protein from Sea Urchin Eggs

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A galactose‐specific carbohydrate binding protein has been identified in eggs and embryos of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus. This protein, named echinonectin (Alliegro et al., 1988, J. Cell Biol. 107; 2319–2327) has been described as a cell‐substrate adhesion protein functioning during embryonic development. The purified protein has an apparent molecular weight of 220 kDa and exists as a dimer of apparently identical 110 kDa subunits. The carbohytrate specificity of the purified protein was examined through the use of competition assays. The protein has a marked specificity for galactose and fucose and a higher affinity for polymers of galactose or galactose sulfate such as carrageenan.