Electrophoretic variation and geographical distribution of the seed protein phytohemagglutinin in cultivated Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Variation of common bean phytohemagglutinin (PHA) a family of tetrameric isolectins with erytroagglutinating (E) and lymphocyte-mitogenic (L) subunits, was examined by one-and two-dimensional electrophoresis in seeds from an old world germplasm collection. Ten different patterens were observed; their polypeptide composition was strictly inter-related to form three different groups of patterns plus a fourth group lacking erytroagglutinating activity anf major polypeptides in the gel area containing PHA. Phytohemagglutinin electrophoresis variation and its relationships with phaseolin - the major storage protein of common bean considered to be an evoltutionary marker in the domestication history of P. vulgaris- are discussed