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Date of Award

2013

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Chemistry (MS)

College, School or Department Name

Department of Chemistry

First Advisor

Tarun K. Dam

Abstract

Two novel mannose specific lectins named Fabiolin and DIL, were purified from the storage tissues of two monocot species, using a new method known as “Capture and Release” (CARE). CARE is a method developed based on the binding properties of the targeted proteins and can be used as a general purification protocol for isolating new lectins. Fabiolin and DIL are tetrameric proteins with a subunit molecular weight of 8 kDa. At higher concentration, both lectins show hemolytic activity, whereas at lower concentration, they agglutinate red blood cells. Hemagglutination inhibition, quantitative precipitation and calorimetric studies show that these lectins strongly interact with yeast high mannose glycoprotein invertase and yeast surface mannan. These interactions suggest that Fabiolin and DIL can potentially act as endogenous antifungal agents in order to protect the plants. In addition, they have the potential to modulate invertasemediated metabolic pathways that regulate ATP production, development, and synthesis of starch and secondary metabolites in plants.

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