Abstract
Simple SummaryLectins are proteins that can recognize and selectively bind specific sugar structures. These proteins are present in all kingdoms of life, including plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms and play a role in a broad range of processes. The interactions between lectins and their target carbohydrates play a primordial role in plant and animal immune systems. Despite being the largest and most diverse taxa on earth, the study of lectins and their functions in insects is lagging behind. To study the role of insect lectins in the immune response, plant lectins could provide an interesting tool. Plant lectins have been well characterized and many of them possess immunomodulatory properties in vertebrate cells. The increasing knowledge on the immunomodulatory effects of plant lectins could complement the missing knowledge on the endogenous insect lectins and contribute to understanding the processes and mechanisms by which lectins participate in insect immunity. This review summarizes existing studies of immune responses stimulated by endogenous or exogenous lectins.Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that recognize and selectively bind to specific sugar structures. This group of proteins is widespread in plants, animals, and microorganisms, and exerts a broad range of functions. Many plant lectins were identified as exogenous stimuli of vertebrate immunity. Despite being the largest and most diverse taxon on earth, the study of lectins and their functions in insects is lagging behind. In insects, research on lectins and their biological importance has mainly focused on the C-type lectin (CTL) family, limiting our global understanding of the function of insect lectins and their role in insect immunity. In contrast, plant lectins have been well characterized and the immunomodulatory effects of several plant lectins have been documented extensively in vertebrates. This information could complement the missing knowledge on endogenous insect lectins and contribute to understanding of the processes and mechanisms by which lectins participate in insect immunity. This review summarizes existing studies of immune responses stimulated by endogenous or exogenous lectins. Understanding how lectins modulate insect immune responses can provide insight which, in turn, can help to elaborate novel ideas applicable for the protection of beneficial insects and the development of novel pest control strategies.
Highlights
Lectins are unique proteins that are characterized by their ability to selectively bind to specific carbohydrate residues
This review focuses on the role of lectins in insect immunity
C-type lectin (CTL) can further be classified into subfamilies such as collectins, endocytic receptors, selectins, etc
Summary
Lectins are unique proteins that are characterized by their ability to selectively bind to specific carbohydrate residues. These sugar structures can be monosaccharides, disaccharides, or polysaccharides, and can be present as free sugars or as glycoconjugates linked to proteins and lipids. The word “lectin”, meaning “to select”, was introduced to replace the term hemagglutinin [2] Because of their selectivity in carbohydrate binding, lectins play crucial roles in a multitude of biological processes in plants, animals, and microorganisms. Some animals can secrete lectins that can kill bacteria by forming pore structures on their membranes [4]. A better understanding of the lectin-related, insect-immunity-related processes can provide a perspective for the protection of beneficial/economical insects, and can help in the development of new pest control strategies
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