Concanavalin a perturbation of membrane enzymes of mammary gland

Abstract

The plant lectin concanavalin A (Con A) specifically inactivates the 5′ -nucleotidase of a plasma membrane-enriched fraction from lactating mammary gland. The lectin also causes an activation of the membrane Mg⁺⁺ -ATPase, but does not affect galactosyltransferase or alkaline phosphatase. The enzyme perturbations are prevented by α-methylmannoside, an inhibitor of Con A binding, indicating that specific binding to carbohydrate structures rather than nonspecific protein-protein interaction is involved. Solubilization of the 5′ -nucleotidase in detergents (0.2% Triton X-100 or 1% deoxycholate) does not prevent Con A inactivation, indicating that incorporation into the membrane structure is not a requirement for the Con A effect. The results suggest that Con A inactivates the 5′ -nucleotidase by a direct interaction with the enzyme and that this enzyme is a Con A receptor site on the surface of mammary cells.