The primary structure of the alpha chain of a mitogenic lectin from the seeds of Lathyrus sativus.

The complete primary structure of the alpha chain of the glucose- and mannose-specific lectin from Lathyrus sativus seeds has been determined. The structure was elucidated by Edman degradation on the whole chain as well as on fragments derived from cleaving the chain with BNPS-skatole and of peptides derived after tryptic digestion of the citraconylated chain. The analyses revealed a heterogeneity in the chain length (53 or 55 residues) and a microheterogeneity in positions 47 (aspartic acid and glycine). The sequence was highly homologous to the alpha chain of the lectin from Lathyrus odoratus.