How Do You Spell CONCANAVALIN A?

Pronunciation: [kənkˈane͡ɪvˌalɪn ˈe͡ɪ] (IPA)

Concanavalin A is a protein found in jack beans. Its pronunciation, according to IPA phonetic transcription, is kɒnkəˈnævəlɪn ˈeɪ. The word is spelled as it sounds, with each syllable clearly pronounced. The 'c' in 'Concana-' is pronounced as a hard 'k' sound, while the 'a' in '-valin' is pronounced as 'uh'. The 'A' at the end of the word is emphasized, with a long 'eɪ' sound. Overall, the pronunciation and spelling of Concanavalin A are straightforward and easily recognizable.

CONCANAVALIN A Meaning and Definition

1. Concanavalin A is a lectin, a type of protein, derived from the seeds of the jack bean plant (Canavalia ensiformis). It is a tetrameric protein composed of four identical subunits, each with a molecular weight of approximately 26 kDa. Concanavalin A is widely used in various biochemical and molecular biology research applications due to its ability to specifically bind to carbohydrates, particularly α-D-mannopyranosyl and α-D-glucopyranosyl residues.

   Concanavalin A displays high affinity and specificity for these sugar residues, forming stable complexes with glycoproteins, glycopeptides, and polysaccharides that contain the appropriate sugar motifs. This lectin is particularly useful in the isolation and purification of glycoproteins from complex mixtures. It can be coupled to separation matrices, such as agarose or Sepharose beads, allowing for affinity chromatography and efficient purification of glycoproteins.

   Furthermore, Concanavalin A is widely used in cell biology and immunology research to study cellular processes and immune responses. Its ability to bind to specific sugar residues on the cell surface allows for the identification and characterization of glycoproteins involved in cell adhesion, recognition, and signaling. It is also utilized in immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry experiments to label and detect glycoproteins on the surface of cells or tissues.

   Overall, Concanavalin A is a valuable tool in various scientific disciplines, aiding in the isolation, purification, and characterization of glycoproteins, as well as in the study of cellular processes and immune responses.

Common Misspellings for CONCANAVALIN A

• xoncanavalin a
• voncanavalin a
• foncanavalin a
• doncanavalin a
• cincanavalin a
• ckncanavalin a
• clncanavalin a
• cpncanavalin a
• c0ncanavalin a
• c9ncanavalin a
• cobcanavalin a
• comcanavalin a
• cojcanavalin a
• cohcanavalin a
• conxanavalin a
• convanavalin a
• confanavalin a
• condanavalin a
• concznavalin a
• concsnavalin a

Etymology of CONCANAVALIN A

The word "Concanavalin A" has its origins in the name of the plant from which it was first isolated, Canavalia ensiformis, commonly known as Jack bean. The "Concana-" part of the word is derived from the genus name Canavalia, while the "-valin" portion comes from the Latin word "valere", meaning to be strong or effective. "A" is added as a suffix to indicate that it is the first isoform of this lectin found in the plant. Therefore, "Concanavalin A" refers to the lectin found in Canavalia ensiformis.

Plural form of CONCANAVALIN A is CONCANAVALIN AS