Lectin binding characteristics of a cholesterol nucleation promoting protein

Gallbladder bile supersaturated with cholesterol is not the only requirement for the formation of cholesterol gallstones ]1,2]. Biliary proteins are now recognized as important factors in the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstone disease. Nucleating proteins [3-61 as well as anti-nucleating proteins [7] have been identified in gallbladder biles. Anti-nucleating proteins are believed to result in the metastability of cholesterol supersaturated control biles. On the other hand, nucleating proteins have been suggested to be responsible for the rapid nucleation of cholesterol from the bile of gallstone patients. Recently Groen et al. [6] have reported that a biliary protein that binds to Concanavalin A has nucleation influencing activity. In this study we investigated the potency of this Con A binding protein. We have also further characterized this nucleation promoting protein by studying its ability to bind wheat germ lectin (WGA).