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Olvera-Lucio FH, Riveros-Rosas H, Quintero-Martínez A, Hernández-Santoyo A. Tandem-repeat lectins: structural and functional insights. Glycobiology 2024; 34:cwae041. [PMID: 38857376 PMCID: PMC11186620 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwae041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Multivalency in lectins plays a pivotal role in influencing glycan cross-linking, thereby affecting lectin functionality. This multivalency can be achieved through oligomerization, the presence of tandemly repeated carbohydrate recognition domains, or a combination of both. Unlike lectins that rely on multiple factors for the oligomerization of identical monomers, tandem-repeat lectins inherently possess multivalency, independent of this complex process. The repeat domains, although not identical, display slightly distinct specificities within a predetermined geometry, enhancing specificity, affinity, avidity and even oligomerization. Despite the recognition of this structural characteristic in recently discovered lectins by numerous studies, a unified criterion to define tandem-repeat lectins is still necessary. We suggest defining them multivalent lectins with intrachain tandem repeats corresponding to carbohydrate recognition domains, independent of oligomerization. This systematic review examines the folding and phyletic diversity of tandem-repeat lectins and refers to relevant literature. Our study categorizes all lectins with tandemly repeated carbohydrate recognition domains into nine distinct folding classes associated with specific biological functions. Our findings provide a comprehensive description and analysis of tandem-repeat lectins in terms of their functions and structural features. Our exploration of phyletic and functional diversity has revealed previously undocumented tandem-repeat lectins. We propose research directions aimed at enhancing our understanding of the origins of tandem-repeat lectin and fostering the development of medical and biotechnological applications, notably in the design of artificial sugars and neolectins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco H Olvera-Lucio
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Coyoacán 04510, Mexico
| | - Héctor Riveros-Rosas
- Depto. Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Coyoacán 04510, Mexico
| | - Adrián Quintero-Martínez
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Coyoacán 04510, Mexico
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Lundstrøm J, Gillon E, Chazalet V, Kerekes N, Di Maio A, Feizi T, Liu Y, Varrot A, Bojar D. Elucidating the glycan-binding specificity and structure of Cucumis melo agglutinin, a new R-type lectin. Beilstein J Org Chem 2024; 20:306-320. [PMID: 38410776 PMCID: PMC10896221 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.20.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant lectins have garnered attention for their roles as laboratory probes and potential therapeutics. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of Cucumis melo agglutinin (CMA1), a new R-type lectin from melon. Our findings reveal CMA1's unique glycan-binding profile, mechanistically explained by its 3D structure, augmenting our understanding of R-type lectins. We expressed CMA1 recombinantly and assessed its binding specificity using multiple glycan arrays, covering 1,046 unique sequences. This resulted in a complex binding profile, strongly preferring C2-substituted, beta-linked galactose (both GalNAc and Fuca1-2Gal), which we contrasted with the established R-type lectin Ricinus communis agglutinin 1 (RCA1). We also report binding of specific glycosaminoglycan subtypes and a general enhancement of binding by sulfation. Further validation using agglutination, thermal shift assays, and surface plasmon resonance confirmed and quantified this binding specificity in solution. Finally, we solved the high-resolution structure of the CMA1 N-terminal domain using X-ray crystallography, supporting our functional findings at the molecular level. Our study provides a comprehensive understanding of CMA1, laying the groundwork for further exploration of its biological and therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Lundstrøm
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 7B, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Emilie Gillon
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 601 Rue de la Chimie, 38610 Gières, France
| | - Valérie Chazalet
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 601 Rue de la Chimie, 38610 Gières, France
| | - Nicole Kerekes
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 7B, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Antonio Di Maio
- Glycosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Rd, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Ten Feizi
- Glycosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Rd, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Yan Liu
- Glycosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Rd, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Annabelle Varrot
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 601 Rue de la Chimie, 38610 Gières, France
| | - Daniel Bojar
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 7B, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
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Gerdol M, Nerelli DE, Martelossi N, Ogawa Y, Fujii Y, Pallavicini A, Ozeki Y. Taxonomic Distribution and Molecular Evolution of Mytilectins. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:614. [PMID: 38132935 PMCID: PMC10744619 DOI: 10.3390/md21120614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
R-type lectins are a widespread group of sugar-binding proteins found in nearly all domains of life, characterized by the presence of a carbohydrate-binding domain that adopts a β-trefoil fold. Mytilectins represent a recently described subgroup of β-trefoil lectins, which have been functionally characterized in a few mussel species (Mollusca, Bivalvia) and display attractive properties, which may fuel the development of artificial lectins with different biotechnological applications. The detection of different paralogous genes in mussels, together with the description of orthologous sequences in brachiopods, supports the formal description of mytilectins as a gene family. However, to date, an investigation of the taxonomic distribution of these lectins and their molecular diversification and evolution was still lacking. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the evolutionary history of mytilectins, revealing an ancient monophyletic evolutionary origin and a very broad but highly discontinuous taxonomic distribution, ranging from heteroscleromorphan sponges to ophiuroid and crinoid echinoderms. Moreover, the overwhelming majority of mytilectins display a chimera-like architecture, which combines the β-trefoil carbohydrate recognition domain with a C-terminal pore-forming domain, suggesting that the simpler structure of most functionally characterized mytilectins derives from a secondary domain loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Daniela Eugenia Nerelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Nicola Martelossi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Yukiko Ogawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis Ten Bosch, Sasebo 859-3298, Japan
| | - Yuki Fujii
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis Ten Bosch, Sasebo 859-3298, Japan
| | - Alberto Pallavicini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Yasuhiro Ozeki
- Graduate School of NanoBio Sciences, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0027, Japan
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Schnider B, Escudero FL, Imberty A, Lisacek F. BiotechLec: an interactive guide of commercial lectins for glycobiology and biomedical research applications. Glycobiology 2023; 33:684-686. [PMID: 37083961 PMCID: PMC10627245 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwad034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
For decades, lectins have been used as probes in glycobiology and this usage has gradually spread to other domains of Life Science. Nowadays, researchers investigate glycan recognition with lectins in diverse biotechnology and clinical applications, addressing key questions regarding binding specificity. The latter is documented in scattered and heterogeneous sources, and this situation calls for a centralized and easy-access reference. To address this need, an on-line solution called BiotechLec (https://www.unilectin.eu/biotechlec) is proposed in a new section of UniLectin, a platform dedicated to lectin molecular knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Schnider
- Proteome Informatics Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, route de Drize 7, Geneva CH-1227, Switzerland
- Computer Science Department, University of Geneva, route de Drize 7, Geneva CH-1227, Switzerland
| | - Francisco L Escudero
- Proteome Informatics Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, route de Drize 7, Geneva CH-1227, Switzerland
| | - Anne Imberty
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 601 rue de la chimie, Grenoble 38000, France
| | - Frédérique Lisacek
- Proteome Informatics Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, route de Drize 7, Geneva CH-1227, Switzerland
- Computer Science Department, University of Geneva, route de Drize 7, Geneva CH-1227, Switzerland
- Section of Biology, University of Geneva, route de Drize 7, Geneva CH-1227, Switzerland
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Notova S, Imberty A. Tuning specificity and topology of lectins through synthetic biology. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 73:102275. [PMID: 36796139 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Lectins are non-immunoglobulin and non-catalytic glycan binding proteins that are able to decipher the structure and function of complex glycans. They are widely used as biomarkers for following alteration of glycosylation state in many diseases and have application in therapeutics. Controlling and extending lectin specificity and topology is the key for obtaining better tools. Furthermore, lectins and other glycan binding proteins can be combined with additional domains, providing novel functionalities. We provide a view on the current strategy with a focus on synthetic biology approaches yielding to novel specificity, but other novel architectures with novel application in biotechnology or therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Notova
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Anne Imberty
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 38000 Grenoble, France.
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