Purification and characterization of Moran 20K fromMorus alba

A new glycoprotein was purified from the aqueous methanolic extract of the root bark ofMorus alba which has been used as a component of antidiabetic remedy in Oriental Medicine. SDS-PAGE result shows that the molecular weight of the glycoprotein was approximately 20 kDa. This new glycoprotein was named as Moran 20K. The protein lowered blood glucose level in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic mice model and it also increased the glucose transport in cultured epididymis fat cells. The amino acid composition of the protein was analyzed, and the protein contained above 20% serine and cysteine such as insulin. The actual molecular weight of the protein was determined as 21,858 Da by MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy.