Purification and biochemical characterization of a D-galactose binding lectin from Japanese sea hare (Aplysia kurodai) eggs

Purification, characterization and cDNA cloning of a lectin from the brittle star Ophioplocus japonicus

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that possess specific sugar-binding properties and are involved in various biological activities in different organisms. In this study, purification, characterization, and cDNA cloning of a brittle star lectin, designated as Ophioplocus japonicus agglutinin (OJA), were conducted. OJA was isolated from the brittle star O. japonicus by affinity chromatography on a Sephadex G-25 column, followed by ion-exchange chromatography on a Resource Q column. This lectin yielded distinct bands at approximately 176 or 17 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under non-reducing or reducing conditions, respectively. It also exhibited Ca²⁺-dependent hemagglutination activity, which, however, was not affected by other metal cations, such as Ba²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Mn²⁺. The OJA activity was strongly inhibited by glucose and xylose among the monosaccharides tested, and by bovine thyroglobulin among the glycoproteins tested. Cloning of the OJA cDNA revealed that its primary structure contained the C-type lectin domain (CTLD). The results of this study showed that OJA is an echinoderm-derived glucose/xylose-specific lectin that belongs to the C-type lectin superfamily.

Antiproliferative and Antimicrobial Potentials of a Lectin from Aplysia kurodai (Sea Hare) Eggs

In recent years, there has been considerable interest in lectins from marine invertebrates. In this study, the biological activities of a lectin protein isolated from the eggs of Sea hare (Aplysia kurodai) were evaluated. The 40 kDa Aplysia kurodai egg lectin (or AKL-40) binds to D-galacturonic acid and D-galactose sugars similar to previously purified isotypes with various molecular weights (32/30 and 16 kDa). The N-terminal sequence of AKL-40 was similar to other sea hare egg lectins. The lectin was shown to be moderately toxic to brine shrimp nauplii, with an LC₅₀ value of 63.63 µg/mL. It agglutinated Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells and reduced their growth, up to 58.3% in vivo when injected into Swiss albino mice at a rate of 2 mg/kg/day. The morphology of these cells apparently changed due to AKL-40, while the expression of apoptosis-related genes (p53, Bax, and Bcl-XL) suggested a possible apoptotic pathway of cell death. AKL-40 also inhibited the growth of human erythroleukemia cells, probably via activating the MAPK/ERK pathway, but did not affect human B-lymphoma cells (Raji) or rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-1). In vitro, lectin suppressed the growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and U937 cells by 37.9% and 31.8%, respectively. Along with strong antifungal activity against Talaromyces verruculosus, AKL showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sonnei, and Bacillus cereus whereas the growth of Escherichia coli was not affected by the lectin. This study explores the antiproliferative and antimicrobial potentials of AKL as well as its involvement in embryo defense of sea hare.

Quantification of lectins in Synsepalum dulcificum and comparison with reference foods

A healthy life means a balance between physical activity and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, however, some plant-based foods can have certain adverse effects due to the presence of anti-nutritional factors, such as lectins, capable of binding molecules and preventing their normal assimilation. The level of lectins in Synsepalum dulcificum fruit was determined by hemagglutination assays in human blood, and its comparison with foods characterized as having high and low lectin content. The relative hemagglutinating activity of berries from Synsepalum dulcificum compared to our positive high lectin content food reference (Pinto bean) corresponds to 3.13-6.25%, representing safe levels for nutritional food.

RNA-sequencing to assess the health of wild yellow perch (Perca flavescens) populations from the St. Lawrence River, Canada

This study aimed to better understand in situ cumulative effects of anthropogenic stressors on the health of St. Lawrence River (QC, Canada) yellow perch populations using high-throughput transcriptomics and a multi-biological level approach. Fish were collected in the upstream fluvial Lake Saint-François (LSF) with low degree of environmental perturbations; Lake Saint-Louis (LSL) considered having a moderate degree of anthropogenic stressors, and Lake Saint-Pierre (LSP) a sector where the perch population has been severely declining. Morphometric results indicated that fish from the downstream LSP showed lower body condition compared to LSF and LSL. Liver transcriptomic responses were assessed by RNA-sequencing. Two hundred and eighty genes were over-transcribed in LSP perch while 200 genes were under-transcribed compared to LSF and LSL. In LSP fish, genes transcripts related to reproduction, retinol, iron, thyroid hormones, oxidative stress, lipid metabolism and immune functions were among the most abundant suggesting that multiple metabolic and physiological pathways were impacted by environmental stressors at this site. Inhibition of liver superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities were also observed at the cellular level. Overall, identified impacted biological pathways in perch from LSP may help understand the precarious state of this population and identify the factors inhibiting its recovery.

Isolation, Amino Acid Sequences, and Plausible Functions of the Galacturonic Acid-Binding Egg Lectin of the Sea Hare Aplysia kurodai

Egg lectins occur in a variety of animals ranging from mollusks to vertebrates. A few examples of molluscan egg lectins have been reported, including that of the sea hare Aplysia kurodai; however, their biological functions in the egg remain unclarified. We report the isolation, determination of primary structure, and possible functions of A.kurodai lectin (AKL) from the egg mass of A. kurodai. We obtained AKL as an inseparable mixture of isoproteins with a relative molecular mass of approximately 32 kDa by affinity purification. The hemagglutinating activity of AKL against rabbit erythrocytes was inhibited most potently by galacturonic acid and moderately by xylose. Nucleotide sequencing of corresponding cDNA obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) allowed us to deduce complete amino acid sequences. The mature polypeptides consisted of 218- or 219-amino acids with three repeated domains. The amino acid sequence had similarities to hypothetical proteins of Aplysia spp., or domain DUF3011 of uncharacterized bacterial proteins. AKL is the first member of the DUF3011 family whose function, carbohydrate recognition, was revealed. Treatment of the egg with galacturonic acid, an AKL sugar inhibitor, resulted in deformation of the veliger larvae, suggesting that AKL is involved in organogenesis in the developmental stage of A. kurodai.

Purification, Biochemical Characterization, and Amino Acid Sequence of a Novel Type of Lectin from Aplysia dactylomela Eggs with Antibacterial/Antibiofilm Potential

A new lectin from Aplysia dactylomela eggs (ADEL) was isolated by affinity chromatography on HCl-activated Sepharose™ media. Hemagglutination caused by ADEL was inhibited by several galactosides, mainly galacturonic acid (Ka = 6.05 × 10⁶ M^-1). The primary structure of ADEL consists of 217 residues, including 11 half-cystines involved in five intrachain and one interchain disulfide bond, resulting in a molecular mass of 57,228 ± 2 Da, as determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. ADEL showed high similarity with lectins isolated from Aplysia eggs, but not with other known lectins, indicating that these lectins could be grouped into a new family of animal lectins. Three glycosylation sites were found in its polypeptide backbone. Data from peptide-N-glycosidase F digestion and MS suggest that all oligosaccharides attached to ADEL are high in mannose. The secondary structure of ADEL is predominantly β-sheet, and its tertiary structure is sensitive to the presence of ligands, as observed by CD. A 3D structure model of ADEL was created and shows two domains connected by a short loop. Domain A is composed of a flat three-stranded and a curved five-stranded β-sheet, while domain B presents a flat three-stranded and a curved four-stranded β-sheet. Molecular docking revealed favorable binding energies for interactions between lectin and galacturonic acid, lactose, galactosamine, and galactose. Moreover, ADEL was able to agglutinate and inhibit biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus, suggesting that this lectin may be a potential alternative to conventional use of antimicrobial agents in the treatment of infections caused by Staphylococcal biofilms.

Catfish rhamnose-binding lectin induces G0/1 cell cycle arrest in Burkitt's lymphoma cells via membrane surface Gb3

Silurus asotus egg lectin (SAL), an α-galactoside-binding protein isolated from the eggs of catfish, is a member of the rhamnose-binding lectin family that binds to Gb3 glycan (Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glc). We have previously demonstrated that SAL reduces the proliferation of Gb3-expressing Burkitt's lymphoma Raji cells and confirm here that it does not reduce their viability, indicating that unlike other lectins, it is not cytotoxic. The aim of this study was to determine the signal transduction mechanism(s) underlying this novel SAL/Gb3 binding-mediated effect profile. SAL/Gb3 interaction arrested the cell cycle through increasing the G_0/1 phase population of Raji cells. SAL suppressed the transcription of cell cycle-related factors such as c-MYC, cyclin D3, and cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK)-4. Conversely, the CDK inhibitors p21 and p27 were elevated by treatment with SAL. In particular, the production of p27 in response to SAL treatment increased steadily, whereas p21 production was maximal at 12 h and lower at 24 h. Activation of Ras-MEK-ERK pathway led to an increase in expression of p21. Notably, treatment of Raji cells with anti-Gb3 mAb alone did not produce the above effects. Taken together, our findings suggest that Gb3 on the Raji cell surface interacts with SAL to trigger sequential GDP-Ras phosphorylation, Ras-MEK-ERK pathway activation, p21 production, and cell cycle arrest at the G_0/1 phase.

Maternal immune transfer in mollusc

Maternal immunity refers to the immunity transferred from mother to offspring via egg, playing an important role in protecting the offspring at early life stages and contributing a trans-generational effect on offspring's phenotype. Because fertilization is external in most of the molluscs, oocytes and early embryos are directly exposed to pathogens in the seawater, and thus maternal immunity could provide a better protection before full maturation of their immunological systems. Several innate immune factors including pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) like lectins, and immune effectors like lysozyme, lipopolysaccharide binding protein/bacterial permeability-increasing proteins (LBP/BPI) and antioxidant enzymes have been identified as maternally derived immune factors in mollusc eggs. Among these immune factors, some maternally derived lectins and antibacterial factors have been proved to endue mollusc eggs with effective defense ability against pathogen infection, while the roles of other factors still remain untested. The physiological condition of mollusc broodstock has a profound effect on their offspring fitness. Many other factors such as nutrients, pathogens, environment conditions and pollutants could exert considerable influence on the maternal transfer of immunity. The parent molluscs which have encountered an immune stimulation endow their offspring with a trans-generational immune capability to protect them against infections effectively. The knowledge on maternal transfer of immunity and the trans-generational immune effect could provide us with an ideal management strategy of mollusc broodstock to improve the immunity of offspring and to establish a disease-resistant family for a long-term improvement of cultured stocks.

A galactose-binding lectin isolated from Aplysia kurodai (sea hare) eggs inhibits streptolysin-induced hemolysis

A specific galactose-binding lectin was shown to inhibit the hemolytic effect of streptolysin O (SLO), an exotoxin produced by Streptococcus pyogenes. Commercially available lectins that recognize N-acetyllactosamine (ECA), T-antigen (PNA), and Tn-antigen (ABA) agglutinated rabbit erythrocytes, but had no effect on SLO-induced hemolysis. In contrast, SLO-induced hemolysis was inhibited by AKL, a lectin purified from sea hare (Aplysia kurodai) eggs that recognizes α-galactoside oligosaccharides. This inhibitory effect was blocked by the co-presence of d-galactose, which binds to AKL. A possible explanation for these findings is that cholesterol-enriched microdomains containing glycosphingolipids in the erythrocyte membrane become occupied by tightly stacked lectin molecules, blocking the interaction between cholesterol and SLO that would otherwise result in penetration of the membrane. Growth of S. pyogenes was inhibited by lectins from a marine invertebrate (AKL) and a mushroom (ABA), but was promoted by a plant lectin (ECA). Both these inhibitory and promoting effects were blocked by co-presence of galactose in the culture medium. Our findings demonstrate the importance of glycans and lectins in regulating mechanisms of toxicity, creation of pores in the target cell membrane, and bacterial growth.

Hemagglutination (inhibition) assay

The hemagglutination assay is a simple and easy method to obtain semi-quantitative data on the sugar binding and specificity of a lectin. An active lectin agglutinates erythrocytes by recognizing a carbohydrate on the cell surface and forming a cross-linked network in suspension. By serially diluting the lectin in a 96-well microtiter plate and adding a constant quantity of erythrocytes, the lectin activity can be estimated.

Glycomics of a novel type-2 N-acetyllactosamine-specific lectin purified from the feather star, Oxycomanthus japonicus (Pelmatozoa: Crinoidea)

A lectin - designated OXYL for the purposes of this study that strongly recognizes complex-type oligosaccharides of serum glycoproteins - was purified from a crinoid, the feather star Oxycomanthus japonicus, the most basal group among extant echinoderms. OXYL was purified through a combination of anion-exchange and affinity chromatography using Q-sepharose and fetuin-sepharose gel, respectively. Lectin was determined to be a 14-kDa polypeptide by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. However, 14-kDa and 28-kDa bands appeared in the same proportion under non-reducing conditions. Gel permeation chromatography showed a 54-kDa peak, suggesting that lectin consists of four 14-kDa subunits. Divalent cations were not indicated, and stable haemagglutination activity was demonstrated at pH 4-12 and temperatures below 60°C. Surface plasmon resonance analysis of OXYL against fetuin showed k(ass) and k(diss) values of 1.4×10(-6)M(-1)s(-1) and 3.1×10(-3)s(-1), respectively, indicating that it has a strong binding affinity to the glycoprotein as lectin. Frontal affinity chromatography using 25 types of prydylamine-conjugated glycans indicated that OXYL specifically recognizes multi-antennary complex-type oligosaccharides containing type-2 N-acetyllactosamines (Galβ1-4GlcNAc) if α2-3-linked sialic acid is linked at the non-reducing terminal. However, type-1 N-acetyllactosamine (Galβ1-3GlcNAc) chains and α2-6-linked sialic acids were never recognized by OXYL. This profiling study showed that OXYL essentially recognizes β1-4-linkage at C-1 position and free OH group at C-6 position of Gal in addition to the conservation of N-acetyl groups at C-2 position and free OH groups at C-3 position of GlcNAc in N-acetyllactosamine. This is the first report on glycomics on a lectin purified from an echinoderm belonging to the subphylum Pelmatozoa.