2.1. Purification and haemagglutinating activity of ConM
Seeds from C. maritima were ground to a fine powder in a coffee mill and the soluble proteins were extracted at 298 K by continuous stirring with 0.15 M NaCl [1:10 (w:v)] for 4 h, followed by centrifugation at 10,000 g at 277 K for 20 min. Protein purification was carried by the affinity chromatography protocol previous described by Ramos and co-workers [47] using Sephadex G-50 column (10 50 cm). The ConM was complexed with IAA in presence of light for 30 min at 310 K and haemagglutinating activity (HA) was done to confirming that indole binding does not alter the carbohydrate recognition. HA was determined in plates by double serial dilutions. Each well received 25 mL 0.1 M TriseHCl buffer pH 7.6 containing 0.15 M NaCl and 5 mM CaCl2 and 5 mM MgCl2. A 100 mL
aliquot of supernatant was added to the first well of the column.
Subsequently, 200 mL suspension of 2% rabbit erythrocytes suspension
containing 0.15 M NaCl was added to each well. HA was
measured after 30 min of incubation at 310 K and 30 min of incubation
at room temperature.