Binding of selected carbohydrates to apo-concanavalin A studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Abstract
Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was used to investigate the binding of selected carbohydrates to different multimeric forms of apo-concanavalin A (apo-Con A). Information on the stoichiometry of the different quaternary Con A complexes, bound to high-affinity carbohydrate ligands, could be derived from the mass spectra. It was observed that specific carbohydrate binding takes place with metal-free apo-Con A. The data revealed that the apo-dimer and -tetramer (which are both present in solution) have similar affinities for the studied carbohydrates.