Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of a tetrameric isolectin from Vicia villosa, specific for the Tn antigen.

Isolectin B4 isolated from Vicia villosa seeds is specific for the Tn antigen, a carcinoma-associated molecular marker. Crystals of the isolectin grown in the presence of carbohydrate are tetragonal, space group P4(1) (or P4(3), with a = 91.3 A, c = 151.7 A and one tetramer in the asymmetric unit. The crystals diffract X-rays to 2.8 A resolution and are suitable for high-resolution structural analysis.