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Abstract
Lectins are widely distributed proteins having ability of binding selectively and reversibly with carbohydrates moieties and glycoconjugates. Although lectins have been reported from different biological sources, the legume lectins are the best-characterized family of plant lectins. Legume lectins are a large family of homologous proteins with considerable similarity in amino acid sequence and their tertiary structures. Despite having strong sequence conservation, these lectins show remarkable variability in carbohydrate specificity and quaternary structures. The ability of legume lectins in recognizing glycans and glycoconjugates on cells and other intracellular structures make them a valuable research tool in glycomic research. Due to variability in binding with glycans, glycoconjugates and multiple biological functions, legume lectins are the subject of intense research for their diverse application in different fields such as glycobiology, biomedical research and crop improvement. The present review specially focuses on structural and functional characteristics of legume lectins along with their potential areas of application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajan Katoch
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CSKHPKV, Palampur, 176 062 India
| | - Ankur Tripathi
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CSKHPKV, Palampur, 176 062 India
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Del Rio M, de la Canal L, Regente M. Plant Antifungal Lectins: Mechanism of Action and Targets on Human Pathogenic Fungi. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2020; 21:284-294. [DOI: 10.2174/1389203720666190906164448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Lectins are proteins characterized by their ability to specifically bind different carbohydrate motifs. This feature is associated with their endogenous biological function as well as with multiple applications. Plants are important natural sources of these proteins; however, only a reduced group was shown to display antifungal activity. Although it is hypothesized that the target of lectins is the fungal cell wall, the mechanism through which they exert the antifungal action is poorly understood. This topic is relevant to improve treatment against pathogens of importance for human health. In this context, mechanisms pointing to essential attributes for virulence instead of the viability of the pathogen emerge as a promising approach. This review provides the current knowledge on the action mechanism of plant antifungal lectins and their putative use for the development of novel active principles against fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianela Del Rio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - CONICET, Funes 3250, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Laura de la Canal
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - CONICET, Funes 3250, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Mariana Regente
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - CONICET, Funes 3250, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
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Jin X, Lee YJ, Hong SH. Canavalia ensiformis-derived lectin inhibits biofilm formation of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes. J Appl Microbiol 2018; 126:300-310. [PMID: 30240117 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 09/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
AIM A lectin Concanavalin A (ConA) derived from Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean) exhibits high-binding affinity to carbohydrates on bacterial cell surfaces. The objective of this study was to inhibit the biofilm formation of the foodborne pathogens enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes using ConA prepared by a membrane-based extraction method. METHODS AND RESULTS ConA was extracted using a simple and inexpensive membrane method instead of a chromatography approach. The extracted ConA was effective in inhibiting biofilms of E. coli by 30-fold and L. monocytogenes by 140-fold. In addition, ConA decreased the swimming motility of enterohemorrhagic E. coli EDL933 (EHEC) by 37%, resulting in low biofilm formation, as ConA binding to the bacterial cell surfaces might cause a reduced capability to adhere due to low cellular motility. We confirmed that the extracted ConA contains active components at less than 10 kDa as well as ConA multimers (>30 kDa) that repress EHEC biofilms. Additionally, noncell-based mannose reduced the activity of ConA in inhibiting biofilms. CONCLUSIONS ConA extracted using the membrane-based method is active in inhibiting the biofilm formation by E. coli and L. monocytogenes via the mannose-binding affinity of ConA. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY ConA can be used as a promising anti-adherent and antibiofilm agent in inhibiting biofilm formation by enterohemorrhagic E. coli and L. monocytogenes. The membrane-based extraction approach may be applied for the economic production of biologically active lectins.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Jin
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Y J Lee
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - S H Hong
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA
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Feng Y, Song J, Zhao Z, Zhao F, Yang L, Jiao C. A rapid and effective method for purification of a heat-resistant lectin from potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers. Glycoconj J 2018; 35:403-409. [PMID: 30088206 DOI: 10.1007/s10719-018-9836-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The potato lectin has been identified to consist of two chitin-binding modules, each containing twin hevein domains. Based on the thermotolerance of the hevein polypeptide, a simple, rapid, and effective protocol for the small-scale purification of the potato lectin has been developed in this study. The method involves only one anion exchange chromatographic step beyond the ammonium sulfate precipitation and the heating treatment. With this method, the potato lectin, a glycoprotein with molecular mass of approximately 60 kDa was found and purified to homogeneity with 9513.3 u/mg of specific hemagglutination (HA) activity in 76.8% yield. The homogeneity was confirmed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and reverse-phase HPLC analysis. The purified lectin was identified using MS-based peptide sequencing (MALDI-TOF/TOF) and showed a 100% Confidence Interval as being homologous to hevein domains in potato lectin. The periodic acid-Schiff staining and ferric-orcinol assay for pentose, as well as its HA activity inhibition by chitosan oligomers further confirmed the purified lectin as a potato chitin-binding lectin. It is noteworthy that the purified potato lectin exhibited heat resistance, by which, together with a short time precipitation by ammonium sulfate, more than 96% of the total proteins in the crude extract were removed. The lectin therefore was easily resolved from the other remining proteins on a DEAE-methyl polyacrylate column.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Feng
- School of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Bin He Road, Qinzhou District, 741001, Tianshui, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Sulfur Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Tianshui, 741001, People's Republic of China
| | - Jintian Song
- School of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Bin He Road, Qinzhou District, 741001, Tianshui, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Sulfur Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Tianshui, 741001, People's Republic of China
| | - Zixuan Zhao
- School of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Bin He Road, Qinzhou District, 741001, Tianshui, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Sulfur Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Tianshui, 741001, People's Republic of China
| | - Feiyi Zhao
- School of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Bin He Road, Qinzhou District, 741001, Tianshui, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Sulfur Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Tianshui, 741001, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingjuan Yang
- Institute of Sulfur Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Tianshui, 741001, People's Republic of China
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianshui Normal University, Tianshui, 741001, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengjin Jiao
- School of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Bin He Road, Qinzhou District, 741001, Tianshui, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Sulfur Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Tianshui, 741001, People's Republic of China.
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He S, Simpson BK, Sun H, Ngadi MO, Ma Y, Huang T. Phaseolus vulgaris lectins: A systematic review of characteristics and health implications. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2017; 58:70-83. [PMID: 26479307 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2015.1096234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Legume lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immune origin. Significant amounts of lectins have been found in Phaseolus vulgaris beans as far back as in the last century; however, many questions about their potential biological roles still remain obscure. Studies have shown that lectins are anti-nutritional factors that can cause intestinal disorders. Owing to their ability to act as toxic allergens and hemagglutinins, the Phaseolus vulgaris lectins are of grave concern for human health and safety. Nonetheless, their potential beneficial health effects, such as anti-cancer, anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV), anti-microbial infection, preventing mucosal atrophy, reducing type 2 diabetes and obesity, promoting nutrients absorption and targeting drugs, are of immense interest. The significance of Phaseolus vulgaris lectins in biological researches and the potential biomedical applications have placed tremendous emphasis on the development of purification strategies to obtain the protein in pure and stable forms. These purification strategies entail considerations such as effects of proteolysis, heating, gamma radiation, and high-hydrostatic-pressure that can have crucial outcomes in either eliminating or improving bioactivities of the lectins. Thus, up-to-date research findings of Phaseolus vulgaris lectins on different aspects such as anti-nutritional and health impacts, purification strategies and novel processing trends, are systematically reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shudong He
- a School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering , Hefei University of Technology , Hefei , Anhui , China.,b School of Food Science and Engineering , Harbin Institute of Technology , Harbin , Heilongjiang , China.,c Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry , Macdonald Campus, McGill University , Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec , Canada
| | - Benjamin K Simpson
- c Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry , Macdonald Campus, McGill University , Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec , Canada
| | - Hanju Sun
- a School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering , Hefei University of Technology , Hefei , Anhui , China
| | - Michael O Ngadi
- d Department of Bioresource Engineering , Macdonald Campus, McGill University , Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec , Canada
| | - Ying Ma
- b School of Food Science and Engineering , Harbin Institute of Technology , Harbin , Heilongjiang , China
| | - Tiemin Huang
- e Advanced Electrophoresis Solutions Ltd. , Cambridge , Ontario , Canada
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