Paper
Lectins: Sources, Activities, and Applications
Published Jan 1, 1999 · R. Singh, A. Tiwary, J. Kennedy
Critical Reviews in Biotechnology
126
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Influential Citations
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Lectins are glycoproteins or oligomeric proteins with one or more sugar-binding site(s) per subunit. These molecules are of nonimmune origin and bind reversibly with specific sugars and precipitate polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and glycolipids bearing specific sugars, thus acting as cell recognizers. They play a key role during the initiation of infections in the altered behavior of cells during metastasis and in protection of neonates against environmental antigens. The specificity of lectins for certain sugars has been used as probes to detect cell surface sugars, enzymes, immunoglo-bulins, and to identify tumorogenic cells. Lectin-liposome conjugates have also found applications for targeted drug delivery. In addition, they have been used for flocculation of bacterial suspensions in the industry. This review discusses various sources of lectins and the mechanism behind their potential role in diverse fields of biological interest.
Lectins play a key role in infection initiation, metastasis, and neonatal protection, and their specificity for specific sugars has applications in cell recognition, targeted drug delivery, and bacterial flocculation.
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