Wheat-germ lectin precipitation

The method of lectin precipitation is based on selective precipitation of BALP with wheat germ lectin. The difference between the catalytic concentration before the precipitation and after can relatively successfully quantified in the form of the catalytic concentration of BALP (R7). 

The use of wheat germ lectin, binding the N-acetylglu-cosamine residues present in different amounts on individual isoenzymes, has also been the basis of a commercial technique for the selective precipitation and measurement of bone ALP. However, this technique does not provide sufficient accuracy and precision for quantifying the bone fraction. 

Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), a lectin, has been used to measure BAP by affinity chromatography, affinity electrophoresis, or differential precipitation of isoforms. 

Desulphated keratan sulphate has been shown to interact with wheat-germ agglutinin, supporting the view that non-consecutive (1 -> 4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-j8-D-glucopyranosyl residues interact specifically with the lectin to precipitate the complex. The distribution and chemical composition of keratan sulphate in various tissues, including those from a patient with Marfan syndrome, have been related to ageing. 

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