![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/3CNA_Concanavalin_A.png/640px-3CNA_Concanavalin_A.png&w=640&q=50)
Concanavalin A
Lectin (carbohydrate-binding protein) originally extracted from the jack-bean / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Con A?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Concanavalin A (ConA) is a lectin (carbohydrate-binding protein) originally extracted from the jack-bean (Canavalia ensiformis). It is a member of the legume lectin family. It binds specifically to certain structures found in various sugars, glycoproteins, and glycolipids, mainly internal and nonreducing terminal α-D-mannosyl and α-D-glucosyl groups.[2][3] Its physiological function in plants, however, is still unknown. ConA is a plant mitogen, and is known for its ability to stimulate mouse T-cell subsets giving rise to four functionally distinct T cell populations, including precursors to regulatory T cells;[4] a subset of human suppressor T-cells is also sensitive to ConA.[4] ConA was the first lectin to be available on a commercial basis, and is widely used in biology and biochemistry to characterize glycoproteins and other sugar-containing entities on the surface of various cells.[5] It is also used to purify glycosylated macromolecules in lectin affinity chromatography,[6] as well as to study immune regulation by various immune cells.[4]
Concanavalin A | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | |||||||
Identifiers | |||||||
Organism | Canavalia ensiformis (jackbean) | ||||||
Symbol | ConA | ||||||
PDB | 3CNA | ||||||
UniProt | P81461 | ||||||
|