Purification, characterization and antibacterial potential of a lectin isolated from Apuleia leiocarpa seeds

Apuleia leiocarpa is a tree found in Caatinga that has great value in the timber industry. Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins with several biotechnological applications. This study shows the isolation, characterization, and antibacterial activity of A. leiocarpa seed lectin (ApulSL). The lectin was chromatographically isolated from a crude extract (in 150mM NaCl) by using a chitin column. ApulSL adsorbed to the matrix and was eluted using 1.0M acetic acid. Native ApulSL was characterized as a 55.8-kDa acidic protein. SDS-PAGE showed three polypeptide bands, whereas two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed four spots. The peptides detected by MALDI TOF/TOF did not show sufficient homology (