Lectin Activity Research Articles

Evaluation of the genotoxic potential and minimisation of antinutrients in edible Xuta (Jatropha curcas L.) kernels.

Back-table intra-arterial administration of C1 esterase inhibitor to deceased donor kidney allografts improves posttransplant allograft function: Results of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Lectins are glycan-binding proteins involved in diverse biological processes and have gained attention for their potential applications in biotechnology and immunomodulation. BOL (Brassica oleracea lectin) is a unique ~34 kDa lectin isolated from Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, composed exclusively of TRAF-like domains, where TRAF stands for tumor necrosis factor receptor–associated factor. To overcome the limitations of plant-based extraction, we aimed to produce recombinant BOL in Escherichia coli. Various strains and expression vectors were tested under distinct induction conditions to optimize solubility and yield. While expression using pET28a was unsuccessful, GST-tagged BOL was efficiently expressed in E. coli BL21-R3-pRARE2(DE3) and purified using affinity chromatography. Functional assays demonstrated that the recombinant protein retained lectin activity, as evidenced by hemagglutination of goat erythrocytes. Protein identity was confirmed by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry, with tryptic peptides matching the BOL lectin sequence in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. Our findings highlight the importance of codon optimization, temperature modulation, and fusion tag selection for the successful expression of eukaryotic lectins in E. coli. This work provides a platform for future functional studies of BOL and supports its potential application in plant immunity and biomedical research.

Adsorption or covalent binding of a lectin to a nanoparticle and their immobilization for biosensing: Is it a compromise between simplicity and performance?

Euphorbia hirta L. is traditionally used to treat tumors and has demonstrated anticancer effects. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, toxicity, and antitumor activity of saline extract (SE) from E. hirta leaves in mice. Phytochemical analysis included thin layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and quantification of phenols, flavonoids, and proteins. Acute toxicity (2000 mg/kg) assessed mortality, hematological, biochemical, histological parameters, water/feed intake, and body weight. Genotoxicity was evaluated via comet and micronucleus assays. Antitumor activity was tested in vitro and in vivo on sarcoma 180. SE contained 107.3 mg GAE/g phenolics and 22.9 mg QE/g flavonoids; the presence of gallic and ellagic acids was detected. Protein concentration was 12.16 mg/mL with lectin activity present. No mortality, organ damage, or genotoxic effects occurred in toxicity tests. SE demonstrated in vitro cytotoxicity against sarcoma cells (IC50: 10 µg/mL). In vivo, SE (50-200 mg/kg) reduced tumor weight by 70.2-72.3%. SE modulated IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in tumor environment. Tumors showed inflammatory infiltrate, necrosis, and fibrosis after treatment. These findings position the extract as a promising candidate for further development as a safe, plant-based antitumor agent.

The physicochemical properties of the lectin of the lower fungus, micromycetes Alternaria alternate 4 have been studied. It was found that the lectin of the micromycetes Alternaria alternate 4 is stable over a wide range of temperatures and pH values (5-70oC and pH 6.0-9.0). The greatest activity of lectin was observed at a temperature of 5-50 °C and a pH of 6.5-8.5. The increased activity of Alternaria alternate 4 lectin was facilitated by the presence of divalent Ca2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+ ions in the reaction mixture, which indicates that Alternaria alternate 4 lectin is a metal-dependent glycoprotein. Alternaria alternate 4 lectin had the ability to bind simple carbohydrates. The activity of Alternaria alternate 4 lectin was inhibited to a greater extent by galactose, which indicates that Alternaria alternate 4 lectin belongs to the group of galactose-binding lectins.

Lectins are proteins having the ability to specifically bind to selective carbohydrates or sugars located on the cell surface and molecules. This binding activity is highly specific, suggesting that each lectin protein is tailored to recognize and interact with a particular type of sugar molecule. The specificity of lectins plays a critical role in various biological processes including cell-to-cell recognition, communication and adhesion. By selectively binding to specific sugars, lectins help to facilitate the exchange of information between cells and molecules, enabling the proper execution of various physiological functions. The research aimed to investigate to partially purify and to characterize lectins from Terminalia catappa seeds. The process involved extracting the lectin from the seeds using physiological saline, partial purification by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by dialysis. The partially purified lectin extract was tested for multiple parameters. Hemagglutination assay revealed the highest lectin activity for human blood group B+ve, its sugar specificity towards galactose and lactose, loss of its hemagglutination activity by EDTA, enhanced hemagglutination by metal ions like Mg, Cr, Ca, Fe, etc. Effect of pH was found in the range of 4 to 11 and effect of temperature between 20 to 600C. The potential of the lectin for antimicrobial activity against E.coli and S. aureus was assessed by agar well diffusion method. Protein concentration was determined by Lowry's method, performed on a UV-Vis Spectrophotometer (Systronics model number 118).

Recently, there has been increased research on treatments that modulate the complement system because of its significance in many diseases. However, managing patients with complement-related diseases is challenging owing to the different responses to treatments because of the heterogeneity of the aetiology of the different diseases, which may affect different proteins of the complement activation cascade. This study addresses these challenges using a comprehensive computational model, C-model. C-model is an enhanced pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic simulation environment focused on the complement system, which can computationally model the alternative, classical and lectin activation pathways; the terminal/lytic pathway; and their regulation in fluid phase and on erythrocytes and endothelial cells. It incorporates experimental data on patients and simulated drugs. Our study demonstrates that C-model is effective in forecasting complement biomarkers across healthy and diseased states, as well as their reaction to treatments. The simulations from this study are freely available for academic use at https://cmodel.pythonanywhere.com. This extensive enhanced pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model supports the development of new therapies and personalised patient management by enabling scenario simulation and adaptation to various complement-related diseases. It advances our understanding of the complement system and its role in disease management.

Morphometric parameters and lectin activity of seedlings of soft winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) inoculated with conidial suspension of Oculimacula yallundae, an eyespot causal agent, were studied under conditions of pre-sowing treat­ment with silver and copper nanoparticles. The study revealed that the seed treatment of two wheat cultivars of different resistance (a susceptible 'Myronivska 808' and a relatively resistant 'Renan') affects the seedling growth of both cultivars as well as protein content and lectin activity of various cellular fractions. It has been found that the lectin activity of cell wall fractions and cell organelles in wheat seedlings at the infection and pre-sowing treatment is higher than in uninfected seedlings. The dynamics of lectin activity of various cell fractions during infection differed. The reaction-response effect was more pronounced in seedlings of the 'Renan' cultivar relatively resistant to the pathogen. Pre-sowing treatment with Ag and Cu nanoparticles induced lectin-dependent defense responses in wheat seedlings of both studied cultivars. The obtained results hold potential for further research and use of metal nanoparticles for plant protection against biotic and abiotic factors.

Acetylation inhibition of key lysine residue enhances antibacterial activity of rhamnose-binding lectin in pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata martensii

Galectin-1 (Gal-1) displays unique sensitivity to oxidative inactivation which appears critical in regulating its spatial and temporal activity. The two physicochemical states, i.e. monomer-dimer equilibrium and redox states, are related to Gal-1 varying functionality. In this work, we used chronopotentiometric stripping analysis, intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy, and mobility shift assay to follow changes in the structure and lectin activity of reduced and oxidized Gal-1 forms. Our results show that monomers and dimers are similarly distributed under mild reduction and oxidation conditions. Gal-1 after its oxidation consists of at least three different monomeric forms while reduced Gal-1 only one. Lectin activity, affinity to N-acetyllactosamine, is relatively similar for low Gal-1 concentrations for both, reduced and oxidized Gal-1. However, at higher Gal-1 concentrations, we observed a ten times higher affinity for reduced than oxidized form. Further, our data indicate that the monoclonal antibodies bind preferentially to Gal-1 dimers and specifically to only some forms of its oxidized form.

In this study, we examined the biological properties of lectins isolated from raw and heated Japanese white runner beans (WRB; Phaseolus coccineus). Notably, we studied the agglutination activity of lectins that persisted after both dry and wet heating processes. Raw and heated WRB lectins were fractionated using thyroglobulin-sepharose chromatography. Raw WRB lectins displayed strong specificity for thyroglobulin but weak specificity for fetuin, demonstrated resistance to proteases, and tolerated temperatures of 60°C for 30min. The antiproliferative effects of WRB lectins on cancer cells were assessed and compared between raw and heated beans. Both raw and heated WRB lectins exhibited significant antiproliferative activity against five cancer cell lines: LM8, B16, HeLa, HepG2, and Colo679. Interestingly, in terms of antiproliferative activity, raw and heated lectins showed no significant differences. Fractionated lectins from raw and heated beans showed strong inhibitory effects against B16 and HeLa cells. Furthermore, crude extracts from raw beans demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity. In summary, our findings highlight that lectin from heated WRB beans retained bioactivity, including anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, after heating. These results suggest that WRB lectins could be developed as bioactive compounds for medical applications as functional food components. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Japanese white runner beans (WRB), cultivated in northeastern Japan and traditionally used in confectionery, retain hemagglutination activity under dry and wet heating conditions. Heat-treated WRB lectins demonstrated anticancer activity comparable to that of raw bean lectins, supporting their potential use as bioactive proteins in medical research. WRB lectins may serve as promising candidates for development as anticancer agents or other therapeutic applications.

It is known that infection caused by soybean mosaic virus (SMV) has a negative effect on soybean yield, productivity and seed quality. The main indicators of the nutritional value of soybean seed are the content of main storage proteins glycinin and β-conglycinin, as well as flavonoids, carbohydrates and fat. The goal of the research was to study the impact of SMV infection on the biochemical composition of the seeds of the soybean varieties created by classical breeding methods (‘Kano’, ‘Kuban’, ‘Kordoba’) and varieties of transgenic soybean (‘Grimo’ and ‘Monro’). DAS-ELISA and two step RT-PCR were used to identify SMV. Protein electrophoresis was carried out in 15% polyacrylamide gel containing 0.1% SDS at pH 8.3 according to the Laemmli method. We detected an increase in the activity of trypsin inhibitor and lectins and a decrease flavonoids content in the infected seeds of studied varieties in comparison with the healthy seeds. Seeds of all infected varieties showed a decrease in glycinin content and glycinin/β-conglycinin ratio, with the exception of ‘Monroe’ infected seeds in which both glycinin and β-conglycinin contents were increased or at the level of healthy seeds. We can distinguish the variety ‘Kano’ with a high content of flavonoids, varieties ‘Kuban’ and ‘Grimo’ with increased or maintained levels of healthy seed content of carbohydrates, fat and proteins under infection conditions. The differences in the relative content of the components of β-conglycinin and glycinin subunits in infected seeds depending on the soybean variety were revealed. The obtained results can be used for the selection of soybean varieties resistant to viral infection and with high seed quality. Keywords: flavonoids, glycinin, seed quality, soybean mosaic virus, β-conglycinin

Gliomas, ranging from low-grade pilocytic astrocytomas to highly malignant glioblastomas, are primary brain tumors that originate from neural or glial stem cells. Classified by the WHO into grades 1 to 4, these tumors exhibit varying prognoses, with oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas having better and intermediate outcomes, respectively, while glioblastomas are associated with a poor prognosis. Despite advancements in molecular and genetic research that have improved diagnosis and the development of targeted therapies, treating high-grade gliomas remains a significant challenge due to their diffuse nature. In this context, lectins, carbohydrate-binding proteins, have shown promise as diagnostic and therapeutic agents for cancer, including gliomas. Plant lectins, particularly those from legumes, exhibit significant antiproliferative effects on glioma cells. These effects include decreased cell viability and migration, alongside the induction of autophagy and apoptosis, suggesting their potential as therapeutic agents. Although the mechanisms underlying these effects are not yet fully understood, molecular targets and pathways involved in the antiglioma activity of lectins have been identified. Key targets include matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), CD98 (xc- system), AMPA receptor, and CD73. This review focuses on the antiglioma potential of legume lectins, their applications, and the main molecular targets based on their functions, structures, and associated molecular mechanisms.

Adzuki beans have been historically utilized for both culinary and medicinal purposes in Japan. Lectin derived from Japanese red adzuki beans (JABs, Vigna angularis) exhibits several biological effects; however, to our knowledge, no detailed reports have been published on this topic. We purified lectin from adzuki beans to evaluate its impact on the proliferative activity of cancer cells and establish its biological profile. The Japanese red adzuki bean lectin (JABL) was purified using thyroglobulin-Sepharose 4B and evaluated for blood and sugar specificity and its effect on B16, LM8, Ehrlich ascites, HepG2, HeLa, and Colo679 cell proliferation compared with those of concanavalin A (ConA, Canavalia ensiformis) lectin. The molecular weight of JABL was 60kDa. JABL showed specificity to thyroglobulin, fetuin, and rabbit erythrocytes, but not to sheep and horse erythrocytes. Additionally, JABL showed no resistance to chymotrypsin but exhibited weak resistance at temperatures>60°C. JABL exerted significantly stronger antiproliferative effects than that of the control on human and mouse cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner. JABL demonstrated 30%-40% superior antiproliferative activity against Colo679 and B16 cells compared to that against other cells. JABL activity was weaker than ConA activity (approximately 80%-90%) but equivalent to red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) lectin activity. No inhibitory effect of JABL on TNF-α was observed, which is typically observed with bean lectins. Our results show that JABL might exert antiproliferative effects on mouse and human cancer cells, making it a potential chemopreventive agent for cancer. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Japanese red adzuki beans are popular in Asia, especially Japan. In Japan, the adzuki bean is a staple food and used in Japanese confectionery for celebrations. Adzuki bean lectin was purified using thyroglobulin-Sepharose 4B. The purified lectin showed specificity for rabbit erythrocytes and anticancer activity in mouse and human cells. The lectin retained its biological activity even when subjected to temperatures exceeding 60°C. Thus, adzuki bean lectin has the potential to be used as a bioactive and anticancer agent in medical research.

Bioinformatics Method Predicts Hantavirus Disrupts Vascular Permeability to Invade Cells Violently by Fibrocystin Hydrolase and PTEN/Gtpase-Like System

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent a primary global health challenge. Poor dietary choices and lifestyle factors significantly increase the risk of developing CVD. Legumes, recognized as functional foods, contain various bioactive components such as active peptides, protease inhibitors, saponins, isoflavones, lectins, phytates, and tannins. Studies have demonstrated that several of these compounds are associated with the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, notably active peptides, saponins, isoflavones, and tannins. This review aims to analyze and summarize the relationship between bioactive compounds in legumes and cardiovascular health. It elaborates on the mechanisms through which active ingredients in legumes interact with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. These mechanisms include, but are not limited to, lowering blood pressure, regulating lipid levels, promoting anticoagulation, enhancing endothelial function, and modulating TLR4 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Together, these mechanisms emphasize the potential of legumes in improving cardiovascular health. Additionally, the limitations of bioactive components in legumes and their practical applications, with the goal of fostering further advancements in this area were discussed.

Using AI to verify the successful purification and efficient medical activity of lectin from the marine giant kelp Eucheuma serra

Interest in marine organisms is due to the high content of biologically active substances in them, which are objects of fundamental and applied biomedical research and are effective in the development of therapeutic and prophylactic agents against a wide range of diseases. The laboratory of chemistry of non-infectious immunity of PIBOC FEB RAS conducts research on the screening, isolation, structure determination, study of physicochemical properties and biological activity of lectins from marine invertebrates. Lectins of different carbohydrate specificity have been isolated from bivalve mollusks, the physiological role of which is to participate in the innate immunity of mollusks. These proteins have different biological activity, including antibacterial and antiproliferative.

This study describes the applicability of the fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) based on the use of FITC-labeled oligosaccharide tracers of defined structure for the measurement of active lysozyme in hen egg white. Depending on the oligosaccharide chain length of the tracer, this method detects both the formation of the enzyme-to-tracer complex (because of lectin-like, i.e., carbohydrate-binding action of lysozyme) and tracer splitting (because of chitinase activity of lysozyme). Evaluation of the fluorescence polarization dynamics enables simultaneous measurement of the chitinase and lectin activities of lysozyme, which is crucial for its detection in complex biological systems. Hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL), unlike human lysozyme (HL), formed a stable complex with the chitotriose tracer that underwent no further transformations. This fact allows for easy measurement of the carbohydrate-binding activity of the HEWL. The results of the lysozyme activity measurement for hen egg samples obtained through the FPA correlated with the results obtained using the traditional turbidimetry method. The FPA does not have the drawbacks of turbidimetry, which are associated with the need to use bacterial cells that cannot be precisely standardized. Additionally, FPA offers advantages such as rapid analysis, the use of compact equipment, and standardized reagents. Therefore, the new express technique for measuring the lysozyme activity is applicable for evaluating the complex biomaterial, including for the purposes of food product quality control.