1,3-β-D glucan binding protein (BGBP) from the white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, is also a heparin binding protein

Shrimp BGBP was purified as a 100 kDa glycoprotein by affinity chromatography using immobilised heparin. BGBP bound simple carbohydrates, glycosaminoglycans like heparin sulphate and glycoproteins, but it was unable to agglutinate erythrocytes. Using an ELISA-based microplate assay, it was shown that simple carbohydrates such as d-glucose and d-mannose are competitive inhibitors of heparin sulphate binding to BGBP. Based on these properties BGBP is considered as a new type of heparin binding protein.