Studies on lectins. XXXIX. S-Glycosyl polyacrylamide gels for affinity chromatography of lectins.

Hydrophilic water-insoluble gels suitable for affinity chromatography of lectins have been prepared by copolymerization of acrylamide, N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide and alkenyl 1-thioglycosides. Water-soluble copolymers of analogous type have been obtained by omitting the cross-linking agent, N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide. In affinity chromatography of the Ricinus communis lectin it could be shown that the capacity for the lectin of the water insoluble copolymers was more than four times higher in copolymers having the S-beta-D-galactosyl ligand attached through a methylene bridge than in derivatives with a nonamethylene spacer. None of the insoluble S-beta-D-glycosyl copolymers prepared could be shown usable as affinity adsorbent for glycosidases though the corresponding soluble copolymers inhibited the activity of the enzymes.