Purification, characterization and partial sequence of a pro-inflammatory lectin from seeds of Canavalia oxyphylla Standl. & L. O. Williams

From inflammation to immune regulation: The dual nature of dietary lectins in health and disease

Beans, vegetables, fruits, and mushrooms offer a delightful array of fragrances and an abundance of nutrients, including essential vitamins, minerals, protein rich in vital amino acids, and omega-3 fatty acids. However, they may also contain lectins, carbohydrate-binding proteins with potential health risks. While some lectins exhibit stability and resistance to digestion, posing threats to gastrointestinal integrity and immune function, others, such as those from butterfly peas and pink bauhinia, show immunomodulatory properties that could bolster immune responses. While some lectins, such as phytohemagglutinin, have been associated with inflammatory responses and autoimmune disorders, others, such as wheat lectin, have shown potential benefits in nutrient absorption. Additionally, mushroom lectins, while generally nontoxic, exhibit immunomodulatory properties with implications for immune health. Despite their potential benefits, challenges remain in understanding lectin dosages, administration routes, and mechanisms of action. Further research is needed to elucidate the intricate roles of dietary lectins in immune function and autoimmune disorders. This review surveys the immunomodulatory effects of dietary lectins from plants and mushrooms, shedding light on their mechanisms of action. From inflammation modulation to potential autoimmune implications, the diverse roles of dietary lectins have been explored, highlighting avenues for future investigations and therapeutic exploration.

Pinellia ternata lectin induces inflammation through TLR4 receptor and mediates PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis to regulate NF-κB signaling pathway

Pinellia ternata, a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, contains a strong mucosal irritant that is connected with Pinellia ternata lectin (PTL) in its tubers. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanisms by which PTL induces inflammation. We found that in RAW264.7 cells, PTL activated the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and NF-κB pathways, which resulted in the release of proinflammatory cytokines. Flow cytometry and laser confocal microscopy analysis showed that FITC-labeled PTL bound to the macrophages' surface. Based on kinetic analyses and protein-protein docking simulations, PTL was shown to bind toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4).it was demonstrated that PTL binds highly to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). TLR4 knock-down or knockout resulted in a decrease in both cytokine release and PI3K/Akt/mTOR and NF-κB pathway activation in PTL-stimulated macrophages or mice. RNA-seq analysis showed that genes involved in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway were strongly upregulated in response to PTL stimulation, confirming that the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is linked to the inflammatory effect of PTL in RAW264.7 cells. These findings reveal that PTL can mediate inflammation through TLR4 and activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR to regulate NF-κB signaling pathways.

Purification and characterization of a highly thermostable GlcNAc-binding lectin from Collaea speciosa seeds

Lectins from plants of the Diocleinae subtribe often exhibit specificity towards mannose/glucose and derived sugars, with some plants also displaying a second lectin specific to lactose/GalNAc. Here, we present a novel lectin from Collaea speciosa, named CsL, that displays specificity for GlcNAc/glucose. The lectin was extracted from Collaea speciosa seeds and purified by a single chromatographic step on a Sephadex G-50 matrix. In solution, the lectin appears as a dimeric protein composed of 25 kDa monomers. The protein is stable at pH 7-8 and dependent on divalent cations. CsL maintained its agglutination activity after heating to 90 °C for 1 h. Glycan array studies revealed that CsL binds to N-glycans with terminal GlcNAc residues, chitobiose and chitotriose moieties. The partial amino acid sequence of the lectin is similar to that of some lactose-specific lectins from the same subtribe. In contrast to other ConA-like lectins, CsL is not toxic to Artemia. Because of its remarkably different properties and specificity, this lectin could be the first member of a new group inside the Diocleinae lectins.

ConA-Like Lectins: High Similarity Proteins as Models to Study Structure/Biological Activities Relationships

Lectins are a widely studied group of proteins capable of specific and reversible binding to carbohydrates. Undoubtedly, the best characterized are those extracted from plants of the Leguminosae family. Inside this group of proteins, those from the Diocleinae subtribe have attracted attention, in particular Concanavalin A (ConA), the best-studied lectin of the group. Diocleinae lectins, also called ConA-like lectins, present a high similarity of sequence and three-dimensional structure and are known to present inflammatory, vasoactive, antibiotic, immunomodulatory and antitumor activities, among others. This high similarity of lectins inside the ConA-like group makes it possible to use them to study structure/biological activity relationships by the variability of both carbohydrate specificity and biological activities results. It is in this context the following review aims to summarize the most recent data on the biochemical and structural properties, as well as biological activities, of ConA-like lectins and the use of these lectins as models to study structure/biological activity relationships.

Lectin from Canavalia villosa seeds: A glucose/mannose-specific protein and a new tool for inflammation studies

With important carbohydrate binding properties, lectins are proteins able to decipher the glycocode, and as such, they can be used in bioassays involving cell-cell communication, protein targeting, inflammation, and hypernociception, among others. In this study, a new glucose/mannose-specific lectin from Canavalia villosa seeds (Cvill) was isolated by a single affinity chromatography step in a Sephadex^® G-50 column, with a purification yield of 19.35mg of lectin per gram of powdered seed. Analysis of intact protein by mass spectrometry showed the lectin is composed of three polypeptide chains, including a 25.6kDa α chain, 12.9KDa β, and 12.6 KDa γ fragments, similar to the profile of ConA-like glucose/mannose-specific lectins. Partial sequence of the protein was obtained by MS-MALDI TOF/TOF covering 41.7% of its primary structure. Cvill presented sugar specificity to d-glucose, α-methyl-d-mannoside, d-mannose, and glycoproteins fetuin and ovoalbumin. The lectin characterization showed that Cvill presents high stability within a broad range of pH and temperature, also showing average toxicity against Artemia nauplii. The proinflammatory effect of Cvill was observed by induction of paw edema and hypernociception in mice, with the participation of the carbohydrate binding site, showing its potential to be used as tool in inflammation studies.

Isolation and analysis of mannose/trehalose/maltose specific lectin from jack bean with antibruchid activity

A lectin with insecticidal property against the stored product pest, Callosobruchus maculatus was successfully isolated from the seeds of Canavalia virosa using standard affinity chromatography. The isolated molecule typically behaved like a lectin in its characteristics. It agglutinated indicator red blood cells (RBC) in its native as well as enzyme treated conditions. The enzyme treated RBC types exhibited a very high hemagglutination (HA) titre values and this property of isolated molecule behaved like arcelin, the lectin-like molecules reported from several species of Phaseolus. As a characteristic feature of a lectin, the isolated molecule effectively inhibited the agglutination of indicator RBC types with simple and complex carbohydrates including glycoproteins. This nature of the isolated molecule also relate with characteristic feature of arcelin isoforms in inhibiting HA activity with complex glycoproteins as reported in many studies. Most interestingly, the present study disclosed trehalose as a potent inhibitor of C. virosa lectin. Therefore, feeding insect pests on the lectin like arcelin could serve as antibiosis factor/anti-insect activity. The molecular characteristics of this isolated molecule and its mass studies too revealed its homology with arcelin, arcelin-1, 2 and 6 isoforms of P. vulgaris and lectin from Canavalia cathartica, C. lineata and C. brasiliensis.

Structural analysis of Centrolobium tomentosum seed lectin with inflammatory activity

A glycosylated lectin (CTL) with specificity for mannose and glucose has been detected and purified from seeds of Centrolobium tomentosum, a legume plant from Dalbergieae tribe. It was isolated by mannose-sepharose affinity chromatography. The primary structure was determined by tandem mass spectrometry and consists of 245 amino acids, similar to other Dalbergieae lectins. CTL structures were solved from two crystal forms, a monoclinic and a tetragonal, diffracted at 2.25 and 1.9 Å, respectively. The carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD), metal-binding site and glycosylation site were characterized, and the structural basis for mannose/glucose-binding was elucidated. The lectin adopts the canonical dimeric organization of legume lectins. CTL showed acute inflammatory effect in paw edema model. The protein was subjected to ligand screening (dimannosides and trimannoside) by molecular docking, and interactions were compared with similar lectins possessing the same ligand specificity. This is the first crystal structure of mannose/glucose native seed lectin with proinflammatory activity isolated from the Centrolobium genus.

A novel vasorelaxant lectin purified from seeds of Clathrotropis nitida: partial characterization and immobilization in chitosan beads

A novel lectin from seeds of Clathrotropis nitida (CNA) was purified and characterized. CNA is a glycoprotein containing approximately 3.3% carbohydrates in its structure. CNA promoted intense agglutination of rabbit erythrocytes, which was inhibited by galactosides and porcine stomach mucin (PSM). The lectin maintained its hemagglutinating activity after incubation in a wide range of temperatures (30-60 °C) and pH (6.0-7.0), and its binding activity was dependent on divalent cations (Ca(+2) and Mg(+2)). SDS-PAGE showed an electrophoretic profile consisting of a single band of 28 kDa, as confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, which indicated an average molecular mass of 27,406 ± 2 Da and the possible presence of isoforms and glycoforms. In addition, CNA exhibited no toxicity to Artemia sp. nauplii and elicited reversible and dose-dependent vasorelaxation in precontracted aortic rings. CNA was successfully immobilized on chitosan beads and was able to capture PSM in solution. This study demonstrated that CNA is a lectin that has potential as a biotechnological tool in glycomics and glycoproteomics applications.

Purification and molecular characterization of a novel mannose-specific lectin from Dioclea reflexa hook seeds with inflammatory activity

A novel lectin present in Dioclea reflexa seeds (DrfL) was discovered and described in this study. DrfL was purified in a single step by affinity chromatography in a Sephadex G-50 column. The lectin strongly agglutinated rabbit erythrocytes and was inhibited by α-methyl-D-mannoside, D-mannose, and D-glucose. The hemagglutinating activity of DrfL is optimum at pH 5.0-7.0, stable up to 50 °C, and dependent on divalent cations. Similar to other lectins of the subtribe Diocleinae, the analysis by mass spectrometry indicated that DrfL has three chains (α, β, and γ) with masses of 25,562, 12,874, and 12,706 Da, respectively, with no disulfide bonds or glycosylation. DrfL showed inflammatory activity in the paw edema model and exhibited low cytotoxicity against Artemia sp.

Snake venom galactoside-binding lectins: a structural and functional overview

Snake venom galactoside-binding lectins (SVgalLs) comprise a class of toxins capable of recognizing and interacting with terminal galactoside residues of glycans. In the past 35 years, since the first report on the purification of thrombolectin from Bothrops atrox snake venom, several SVgalLs from Viperidae and Elapidae snake families have been described, as has progressive improvement in the investigation of structural/functional aspects of these lectins. Moreover, the advances of techniques applied in protein-carbohydrate recognition have provided important approaches in order to screen for possible biological targets. The present review describes the efforts over the past 35 years to elucidate SVgalLs, highlighting their structure and carbohydrate recognition function involved in envenomation pathophysiology and potential biomedical applications.

Lectin from green speckled lentil seeds (Lens culinaris) triggered apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines

Background

The green speckled lentil seed (Lens culinaris) lectin (GSLL) exhibits hemagglutinating activity, and possesses some properties distinct from those of other lentil lectins (e.g., molecular size, biological activities) that deserve further investigation. This study aims to investigate the basic properties (e.g., molecular size, amino acid sequence, sugar specificity) and biological activities (e.g., antiproliferative activity) of GSLL.

Methods

GSLL was purified by successive fractionation on SP-Sepharose, Affi-gel blue gel, Mono Q, and Superdex 75. The biochemical properties of GSLL were investigated by SDS-PAGE, mass spectrometry, N-terminal amino acid sequencing, and sugar inhibition tests. For the biological activities, purified lyophilized GSLL was sterilized, adjusted to concentrations from 1 to 0 mg/mL (by twofold serial dilution) in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium with fetal bovine serum, and examined by using the MTT assay, flow cytometry, and western blotting after treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE1 and CNE2 cell lines with the lectin.

Results

GSLL appeared as a 21-kDa band in non-reducing SDS-PAGE. It was composed of two subunits with molecular sizes of 17 and ~4 kDa. It exhibited specificity in binding to glucose and mannose, as well as glucosides and mannosides. Mass spectrometry and N-terminal amino acid sequencing revealed similarity of GSLL to L. culinaris lectin (LcL), especially higher coverage of the β-chain of LcL. A 48-h treatment with GSLL exerted antiproliferative effects on nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE1 and CNE2 cell lines with significant inhibition at 0.125 mg/mL (P < 0.001) and 1 mg/mL (P = 0.004), respectively, and these effects were attenuated in the presence of glucose and mannose. GSLL induced apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE1 cells, with detectable phosphatidylserine externalization, mitochondrial depolarization, and cell cycle arrest. Western blot analysis suggested that GSLL triggered the extrinsic apoptotic pathway involving caspase 3, 8, and 9 in CNE1 cells.

Conclusion

GSLL possessed some different properties from LcL (e.g., lower pI), and increased caspase 3, 8, and 9 activity in CNE1 cells.