Presence of the periplaneta lectin-related protein family in the american cockroach Periplaneta americana

We determined the partial amino acid sequences of Periplaneta lectin, which we had purified and characterized previously from the hemolymph of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) [Kubo T. and Natori S. (1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 168, 75–82]. Based on these sequences, we performed PCR and found that the cDNA library of the Periplaneta fat body contained many similar, but not identical, Periplaneta lectin-related cDNAs. Analysis of the cloned cDNAs suggested that Periplaneta has a protein family, of which the periplaneta lectin and LPS binding protein purified previously are members.