View Full Version : Reading glycoproteins?
 
 Gernald
Nov 16, 2009, 03:07 PM
Ekkk... okay... 
 
So does anyone out there in cyber space know how to determine what a glycoprotein is? I have what I guess is a western blot that has two parts conA-AMM control group and just a conA group. Do the glycoproteins stick to both or do they stick to just the connA group?
 jem02081
Nov 16, 2009, 07:18 PM
ConA is a lectin. It binds to specific kinds of sugars that are found on proteins.  
You can detect protein which contain these sugars (glycoproteins) by ConA binding to them (ex in a Western Blot)  
AMM is alpha methyl mannoside.  This is sugar that binds to ConA.  
Enough said?
 Gernald
Nov 16, 2009, 08:40 PM
So if I'm looking for glycoproteins in a western blot they'll show up on just the ConA-AMM and the other sticky proteins won't?
 jem02081
Nov 16, 2009, 08:57 PM
No, the specific binding will show up with the ConA & the addition of AMM will block this.
The AMM will block all of the ConA binding that's lectin specific & leave you with the NSB.  So ConA-AMM will detect the sticky proteins only.
 Gernald
Nov 16, 2009, 10:01 PM
:-( 
Great now I have to re-do my homework. 
 
Just to clarify w/ the pict below, the one on the left shows sticky proteins while the one on the right shows both.
Thanks so much for your help!
 jem02081
Nov 16, 2009, 10:10 PM
Right!
 Gernald
Nov 16, 2009, 10:19 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! 
(I'd give you one of those cool green things, but it won't let me!)