Lectin from Helix pomatia

Lectin from Helix pomatia is a hexameric glycoprotein with a molecular mass of 79 kDa. It issecreted by the albumen gland of the roman snail. Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA) is specific for N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc).

Lectin from Helix pomatia has been used to conjugate with biotin and acridinium and used in lectin-agglutination tests.

Lectin from Helix pomatia protects fertilized eggs by coating them with perivitelline fluid. They exhibit antibacterial activities and immunity in snail. Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA) possess the potential to agglutinate pathogens. HPA has also emerged as a marker of altered Oglycosylation in cancer.

HPA has anti-A human blood group specificity and has an affinity for terminal N-acetyl-α-D-galactosaminyl residues. Conjugates are prepared from affinity purified lectin.

Affinity purified by a modification of the method of Hammarstrom and Kabat.

Where reported, agglutination activity is expressed in μg/ml and is determined from serial dilutions in phosphate buffered saline, pH 6.8, of a 1 mg/ml solution. This activity is the lowest concentration to agglutinate a 2% suspension of human blood group A erythrocytes after 1 hour incubation at 25 °C.