SIALIC ACID DERIVATIVE-SPECIFIC LECTIN PROTEIN FROM CORDYCEPS MILITARIS BEING USEFUL FOR DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH N-ACETYLNEURAMIC ACID, ISOLATION PROCESS OF THE SAME AND USE THEREOF

摘要

PURPOSE: A sialic acid derivative-specific lectin protein from Cordyceps militaris, an isolation process of the same and use thereof are provided. The protein is useful for diagnosis of disease associated with N-acetylneuramic acid, transfers a selective anticancer drug to a target local region with reduced adverse side-effects, and inhibits various cancers. CONSTITUTION: The sialic acid derivative-specific lectin protein from Cordyceps militaris is Cordyceps militaris agglutinin(CMA) protein having molecular weight of 45 kDa, and specifically binds to N-acetylneuramic acid or a glycoprotein containing N-acetylneuramic acid via red cell agglutination and red cell agglutination inhibition, wherein the N-terminal of the CMA comprises the amino acid sequence of X1-X2-X3-Ala-Val-Glu-Gln-Pro-X9-X10 in which X1 is any one selected from His and Arg, X2 is any one selected from Gln, Leu, Pro, Ile and Try; X3 is any one selected from Pro and Lys; and X9 and X10 are independently Cys or an modified amino acid which is not detected by a sequencer. The process for isolating the CMA comprises the steps of: finely cutting Cordyceps militaris; adding NaCl solution into the cut pieces of Cordyceps militaris and mixing them; filtering the Cordyceps militaris solution; and subjecting the filtered solution to fetuin-affinity chromatography.