Concanavalin A Coated Plates

Concanavalin A (Con A) Coated Plates are specialized microplates designed for binding and studying glycoproteins, glycolipids, and other carbohydrate-containing molecules. Con A is a lectin that specifically binds to α-D-mannosyl and α-D-glucosyl residues, making these plates ideal for assays involving glycosylated molecules. These plates are commonly used in cell adhesion assays, glycoprotein capture, and enzyme-linked lectin assays (ELLA).

• Material Composition:
  • Plates are typically made from polystyrene, chosen for its ability to adsorb proteins and other biomolecules effectively.
  • The surface is uniformly coated with Concanavalin A, ensuring consistent binding sites for glycosylated molecules.
• Concanavalin A Coating:
  • Con A is a lectin derived from the jack bean plant (Canavalia ensiformis) that specifically binds to mannose and glucose residues on glycoproteins and glycolipids.
  • The coating process ensures that Con A is evenly distributed on the well surfaces, providing a high density of binding sites for carbohydrate-containing molecules.
• Binding Specificity:
  • Con A binds specifically to α-D-mannosyl and α-D-glucosyl residues, making these plates ideal for capturing glycoproteins and other glycoconjugates from complex mixtures.
  • The binding is calcium- and manganese-dependent, which may be required to maintain the binding activity during assays.
• Plate Formats:
  • Available in standard formats such as 96-well and 384-well plates, accommodating both low- and high-throughput assay needs.
  • Typically flat-bottom plates are used to facilitate easy detection methods, such as colorimetric, fluorescent, or chemiluminescent readouts.
• Applications:
  • Glycoprotein Capture: Used to selectively capture glycoproteins from biological samples based on their carbohydrate content.
  • Enzyme-Linked Lectin Assay (ELLA): A type of ELISA where Con A is used to detect glycoproteins by binding to their carbohydrate moieties.
  • Cell Adhesion Assays: Con A can mediate cell adhesion by binding to glycoproteins on the cell surface, useful for studying cell-matrix interactions.
  • Drug Discovery: Screening for compounds that inhibit or enhance Con A binding to glycoproteins, useful in developing therapeutics targeting glycosylation.
• Compatibility:
  • Compatible with a variety of detection systems, including colorimetric (e.g., HRP/TMB), fluorescent, and luminescent techniques.
  • Suitable for use with standard lab equipment like automated liquid handlers and microplate readers.