Question

What would happen if the terminal mannose residue in the 1I3H stucture ligand were replaced with glucose? (assume D- glucose attached through the same linkage type). Do you predict ConA would bind to the modified ligand? Why or why not? Provide a structural arguement. HINT: Think about weak binding interactions.

Answer 1

yes,ConA can easily bind to non reducing terminal.concanavalin A (Con A) is the most celebrated and has proven to be one of the most useful of the plant lectins. Its physical chemical properties and carbohydrate-binding properties.The carbohydrate-binding specificity of Con A has been studied in great detail by every conceivable technique. It binds d-glucose, d-fructose, d-mannose, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine and related monosaccharides . The α-anomer of d-mannose is the monosaccharide most complementary to the Con A sugar binding site. The hydroxyl groups most critical for binding to the lectin are those at positions C-3, C-4 and C-6 of the d-pyranose ring system