TEMPERATURE EFFECT ON AFFINITY CHROMATOGRAPHY OF 2 LECTINS FROM SEEDS OF RICINUS-COMMUNIS

Specific adsorption capacity of Sepharose 4B in affinity chromatography for 2 purified galactose-binding lectins, designated as IIII and IIIH, from the seed of R. communis (castor bean) was measured from 7-24.degree. C. The adsorption coefficients for these 2 protein fractions as a function of temperature were also obtained. There is a characteristic transition of adsorption coefficient at 18.degree. C for both lectins. Adsorption coefficients between Sepharose 4B and these 2 lectins were also expressed in terms of .DELTA.G, .DELTA.H, and .DELTA.S. The difference in the temperature dependence of the binding energy of these 2 lectins may be used for their separation at selected temperature.