Monoclonal antibodies reacting with the mucin-specific lectin from Sambucus sieboldiana (SSA-M).

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were prepared against the mucin-specific lectin from Sambucus sieboldiana (SSA-M). The majority of MAbs reacted with both free SSA-M and SSA-M bound to porcine mucin. However, MAbs SS16, SS18, and SS19 did not react with mucin-bound lectin, suggesting that these MAbs may react at or near the lectin binding site. Some MAbs also showed reactivity with lectins other than SSA-M (e.g. ConA, Pisum sativum, and Saphora japonica lectins) suggesting possible sequence homology between SSA-M and other lectins. These MAbs should be useful reagents for immunoaffinity purification of SSA-M, characterizing SSA-M structure and binding, and metabolic studies on mucins.