DETECTION OF TWO LECTINS IN HAEMOLYMPH FROM THE OYSTER PINCTADA MAXIMA

Summary Two lectins were detected in haemolymph from the oyster Pinctada maxima , a macromolecular (approximately 8 × 10 6 dalton) N‐acetyl‐galactosamine‐binding lectin and a lower molecular weight (approximately 4 × 10 5 dalton)α‐galactose‐binding lectin. The macro‐molecular lectin agglutinated human type A erythrocytes to a greater extent than human type B or O erythrocytes and was the major lectin detected in the haemolymph. The 4 × 10 5 dalton lectin agglutinated human type A, B and O erythrocytes to the same extent.