Abstract
Lectins are a large group of carbohydrate-binding proteins, having been shown to comprise at least 48 protein scaffolds or protein family entries. They occur ubiquitously in living organisms—from humans to microorganisms, including viruses—and while their functions are yet to be fully elucidated, their main underlying actions are thought to mediate cell-cell and cell-glycoconjugate interactions, which play important roles in an extensive range of biological processes. The basic feature of each lectin’s function resides in its specific sugar-binding properties. In this regard, it is beneficial for researchers to have access to fundamental information about the detailed oligosaccharide specificities of diverse lectins. In this review, the authors describe a publicly available lectin database named “Lectin frontier DataBase (LfDB)”, which undertakes the continuous publication and updating of comprehensive data for lectin-standard oligosaccharide interactions in terms of dissociation constants (Kd’s). For Kd determination, an advanced system of frontal affinity chromatography (FAC) is used, with which quantitative datasets of interactions between immobilized lectins and >100 fluorescently labeled standard glycans have been generated. The FAC system is unique in its clear principle, simple procedure and high sensitivity, with an increasing number (>67) of associated publications that attest to its reliability. Thus, LfDB, is expected to play an essential role in lectin research, not only in basic but also in applied fields of glycoscience.
Highlights
Research Center for Medical Glycoscience, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Department of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, Soka University, 1-236 Tangi-machi, Tel.: +81-29-861-3124; Fax: +81-29-861-3125
Fujimoto et al reported on protein scaffolds of as many as 48 lectin families, for which three-dimensional structures and lectin functions have been reported in scientific papers [27]
Lectin Frontier DataBase (LfDB: http://jcggdb.jp/rcmg/glycodb/LectinSearch?doc_no=1) has been constructed within the framework of the Japan Consortium for Glycoscience and Glycotechnology (JCGG: http://www.jcgg.jp/index_e.html) under the concept that those scientists who have been separately funded by the different ministries in Japan have joined this consortium and provide support through their own research grants
Summary
For many years in the 20th century, lectins were classified according to their monosaccharide specificity; this was based on observations made with the hemagglutination inhibition test using simple saccharides (mostly monosaccharides and their derivatives). Towards the end of 20th century, the status of lectin research was altered markedly with the increased availability of genome-related information. Lectins are understood and classified from a more objective and systematic viewpoint In this context, it seems reasonable to classify them on the basis of molecular structures (i.e., protein families) combined with information available in genome databases. Fujimoto et al reported on protein scaffolds of as many as 48 lectin families, for which three-dimensional structures and lectin functions have been reported in scientific papers [27]. This number excludes carbohydrate-binding modules found uniquely on glycohydrolases, which often contain R-type lectin domains (Pfam: PF00652). Determination of Oligosaccharide Specificity of Lectins in Terms of Dissociation Constant (Kd)
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