Purification, characterization, cDNA cloning, and expression of asialofetuin-binding C-type lectin from eggs of shishamo smelt (Osmerus [Spirinchus] lanceolatus)

A novel C-type lectin (OLABL) was isolated from the eggs of shishamo smelt [Osmerus (Spirinchus) lanceolatus] by affinity chromatography on asialofetuin-Sepharose. OLABL had a molecular mass of 29 kDa on SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions and two subunits with masses of 15 kDa (OLABL-H) and 14 kDa (OLABL-L) under reducing conditions. Thus, OLABL is a heterodimeric protein. cDNA sequence analysis revealed that the H- and L-subunits of OLABL were composed of 137 and 136 amino acid residues, respectively, and showed almost identical (95%) sequences, with slight differences in the N-terminal and C-terminal regions. Since each subunit contained only the characteristic motif of C-type lectin-like domain (CTLD), EPN-E-WND, OLABL is a member of group VII of the CTLD-containing protein family. Although OLABL had an EPN sequence that is known as a mannose-specific motif found in the collectin family, OLABL agglutinated rabbit erythrocytes without the addition of Ca2+ ion, and this activity was inhibited by l-rhamnose and d-galactose derivatives, but not by d-mannose and d-glucose. These results indicate that OLABL has similar characteristics to AJL-2, a calcium-independent lactose specific lectin isolated from Japanese eel skin mucus. Recombinant OLABLs (rHisOLABLs), His-tagged homodimers of the H- and L-subunits, were refolded from inclusion bodies expressed by Escherichia coli. rHisOLABL-L was recovered as a soluble form, but rHisOLABL-H was hardly dissolved in a renaturing buffer. The specific activities of rHisOLABL-L, rHisOLABL-H, and native OLABL were 500, 36, and 20, respectively. These findings suggest that the combination of subunits may affect the solubility and activity of these dimeric form lectins.