Abstract
The genusErythrina,collectively known as “coral tree”, are pantropical plants, comprising of more than 112 species. Since the early 1980s, seven of these have been found to possess hemagglutinating activity, although not yet characterized. However, around two dozen galactose-binding lectins have been isolated and fully characterized with respect to their sugar specificity, glycoconjugates agglutination, dependence of activity on metal ions, primary and secondary structures and stability. Three lectins have been fully sequenced and the crystal structures of the two proteins have been solved with and without the haptenic sugar. Lectins isolation and characterization from most of these species usually originated from the seeds, although the proteins from other vegetative tissues have also been reported. The main objective of this review is to summarize the physicochemical and biological properties of the reported purifiedErythrinalectins to date. Structural comparisons, based on available lectins sequences, are also made to relate the intrinsic physical and chemical properties of these proteins. Particular attention is also given to the proposed biological significance of the lectins from the genusErythrina.
Highlights
The family Fabaceae [Leguminosis] is considered the third largest family of the flowering plants, with around 800 genera and 20,000 species [1]
We attempt to provide a detailed description on lectins from the genus Erythrina, with regards to their isolation, purification, and characterization, with special focus on their biochemical, biophysical, physiological and structural characteristics compared to related lectins from other legume genera
In case of E. indica leaf lectin (EILL), a single lectin could be detected, which differs from its counterpart seed lectin (EISL) with regard to native molecular weight, isoelectric point and several other physiochemical properties
Summary
The family Fabaceae [Leguminosis] is considered the third largest family of the flowering plants, with around 800 genera and 20,000 species [1]. The genus Erythrina belongs to the legume group, which is widely distributed along the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Many phytochemical compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and lectins have been isolated from this genus and received special attention in research and biotechnology. The hemagglutination features of lectins were attributed to their specific carbohydrate binding activity [5] It was not until the eighties, when the influx of lectins data from different species of Erythrina was obtained as a result of the introduction of modern biochemistry and affinity chromatography techniques, which made the systematic and structural isolation of numerous lectins possible. Source E. indica leaves E. indica seeds E. latissima E. lithosperma E. lysistemon E. poeppiginiana E. perrieri E. rubrinervia E. senegalensis E. speciosa E. steyermarkii E. stricta E. suberosa E. sumatrana E. variegata E. velutina E. vespertilio E. zeyheri
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