How Does Concanavalin a Work?

Concanavalin A (con A) is an antigen-independent mitogen and can be used as an alternative T cell stimulus. ... Concanavalin A irreversibly binds to glycoproteins on the cell surface and commits T cells to proliferation. This is a quick way to stimulate transcription factors and cytokine production.

What does Concanavalin a bind to?

Fluorescein-labeled Concanavalin A is able to bind to the cell wall of algal cells recently isolated from Evernia prunastri and Xanthoria parietina thalli. This binding involves a ligand, probably a glycoprotein containing mannose, which can be isolated by affinity chromatography.

What does concanavalin A stain?

Con A can be used to selectively stain the cell surface of live cells, and withstand fixation and permeabilization. When cells are fixed and permeabilized before staining, fluorescent lectins stain both cell surface and organelles in the secretory pathway.