A glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 28 000 as estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was isolated from seeds of Lufa acutangula using a procedure that involved acetone precipitation, ion exchange chromatography on CM Sepharose CL-6B and gel filtration on Sephadex G-50. In immunodiffusion studies it was found to be immunologically distinct from abortifacient proteins isolated from other members of the Cucurbitaceae family including Momordica charanria, Momordica cochinchinensis, Trichosanthes kirilowii and Trichosanthes cucumeroides. There were some differences in amino acid composition among the proteins although there was a gross similarity. The protein from L. acutanguia was capable of inducing mid-term abortion in mice and inhibiting protein synthesis in a cell-free system.
Two abortifacient proteins designated α and β momorcharins were isolated from seeds of the bitter gourd Momordica charantia by a procedure involving acetone fractionation, CM‐Sepharose chromatography and gel filtration on Sephadex G‐100. The two proteins were approximately equipotent in inducing midterm abortion in mice. Hemagglutinating (lectin) activity was lacking. Homogeneity of the preparations was attested by a single band in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis. Although the two proteins had similar molecular weights as judged by SDS‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, they were immunochemically distinct.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.