Handbook of Plant Lectins Properties and Biomedical Applications

by Van Damme, Els. J. M.; Peumans, Willy J.; Pusztai, Arpad; Bardocz, Susan

• ISBN13: 9780471964452
• ISBN10: 047196445X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-03-06
• Publisher: Wiley
• More Book Details
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Summary

Plant lectins are extensively used as tools and as bioactive proteins in different areas of biomedical and biological research. The Handbook of Plant Lectins provides a comprehensive yet concise overview of the biochemical properties, carbohydrate-binding specificity, biological activities and applications of most of the currently known plant lectins. This handbook consists of two major sections: an introductory guide and a quick reference dictionary. Part I acquaints the newcomer to the lectin field with the essential information on lectins and their importance to biomedicine: * what are lectins? * their carbohydrate-binding specificity * effects on nutrition and immunology * use in histochemistry * application as therapeutic agents Part II lists approximately 200 lectin entries in alphabetical order. Each entry deals with the lectin(s) of a particular plant and provides, (where known), details of: * isolation and characterisation; * sugar binding specificity; * biological activities; * applications; * commercial availability; and, * a bibliography. Useful summary tables list lectins according to their specificity, thereby allowing the user to choose the best lectin for their application. A list of suppliers is also provided. Handbook of Plant Lectins will be of interest to biologists and biomedical researchers studying cell biology, cancer research, nutrition, immunology, pathology and physiology.

Author Biography

Els. J. M. Van Damme is the author of Handbook of Plant Lectins: Properties and Biomedical Applications, published by Wiley.

Willy J. Peumans is the author of Handbook of Plant Lectins: Properties and Biomedical Applications, published by Wiley.

Arpad Pusztai is the author of Handbook of Plant Lectins: Properties and Biomedical Applications, published by Wiley.

Susan Bardocz is the author of Handbook of Plant Lectins: Properties and Biomedical Applications, published by Wiley.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix	(3)
Acknowledgements	xii	(1)
Abbreviations	xiii	(2)
Safety Notice	xv
PART I INTRODUCTION TO LECTINS	3	(64)
1 Plant Lectins: A Special Class of Plant Proteins	3	(28)
General considerations about plant lectins	3	(7)
Definition and subdivision of lectins	3	(3)
Occurence and distribution of plant lectins	6	(1)
The carbohydrate-binding specificity of plant lectins	7	(1)
The physiological role of plant lectins	8	(1)
Isolation of plant lectins	8	(1)
Possible use of plant lectins in biotechnology and transgenic plants	9	(1)
Structure and evolution of plant lectins and their genes	10	(11)
Legume lectins	10	(4)
Chitin-binding lectins containing hevein domains	14	(3)
Monocot mannose-binding lectins	17	(1)
Type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteins	18	(1)
Jacalin and related lectins	19	(1)
Cucurbitaceae phloem lectins	20	(1)
Amaranthin group	20	(1)
Other lectins	21	(1)
Conclusions	21	(1)
Classification and nomenclature of plant lectins	21	(4)
Lectins and isolectins	21	(2)
Subdivision of lectins into specificity groups	23	(1)
Novel nomenclature and classification system of plant lectins	23	(1)
Advantages of the new nomenclature system	24	(1)
Use of the new nomenclature system	25	(1)
References	25	(6)
2 Plant Lectins in Mammalian Nutrition, Immunology, Metabolism and as Oral Therapeutic and Immune Agents	31	(20)
Introduction	31	(1)
Lectin-gut interactions	32	(2)
Resistance to proteolytic degradation in the gut	32	(1)
Surface glycosylation in the gut	32	(1)
Changes in cell metabolism	32	(1)
Interaction with the brush-border membrane	33	(1)
Binding and endocytosis by the stomach and intestines	34	(1)
Effects on the gut immune system	34	(1)
Modification of epithelial cell glycosylation by lectins	34	(1)
Effect of increased crypt cell production rate (CCPR) on glycosylation	34	(1)
Reaction of lectins with secreted glycoproteins	35	(1)
Displacement of endogenous ligands by dietary lectins	35	(1)
Effect of lectins on gut bacteria	35	(1)
Direct interaction of lectins with gut bacteria	35	(1)
Indirect effect of lectins on gut bacteria	35	(1)
Lectin-induced coliform overgrowth in the small intestine	36	(1)
Prevention of colonisation of the gut by pathogens using dietary lectins (chemical probiosis)	36	(1)
Systemic effect of lectins	36	(2)
Oral immunisation	37	(1)
Effects of dietary lectins on the pancreas	37	(1)
Effects on hormone balance	37	(1)
Effects on peripheral organs and tissues	38	(1)
Lectins as reagents in immunology	38	(2)
Mitogenic lectins as polyclonal reagents and their receptors on lymphocytes	38	(1)
Receptors for non-mitogenic lectins	39	(1)
Accessory cells and cytokines	40	(1)
Lectins in the identification and separation of lymphoid cells	40	(1)
Lectins as immune drugs	41	(1)
Lectins as oral therapeutic agents	42	(4)
Lectin-mediated adhesion to the gastrointestinal mucosa	43	(2)
Specific endo-and transcytosis of bioadhesive ligands	45	(1)
Concluding remarks	46	(1)
References	46	(5)
3 Lectin Histochemistry in Histology and Histopathology	51	(16)
Carbohydrate recognition in tissue sections	51	(6)
Tissue preparation	51	(1)
Glycosidase predigestion	52	(1)
Reporter molecules	52	(1)
Controls	53	(1)
Lectins in histology and human histopathology	53	(4)
Reverse lectin histochemistry and neoglycoproteins	57	(2)
Conclusions	58	(1)
References	59	(8)
PART II LECTIN CLASSIFICATION	67	(361)
Key to the Use of the Lectin Entries	67	(4)
Identification of the lectin(s)	67	(2)
Characterisation	69	(1)
Biological activities	69	(1)
Applications	69	(1)
Availability	69	(1)
Miscellaneous	70	(1)
References	70	(1)
Classification Codes	71	(6)
Lectin Entries	77	(351)
Appendix A Other Plant Species in which Haemagglutinating Activity was Reported, but the Protein was not Purified	428	(3)
Appendix B Classification of Lectins into Lectin Groups	431	(5)
Appendix C Classification of Lectins According to Sugar Specificity	436	(5)
Appendix D Sugar Structure of Blood Group Antigens	441	(2)
Appendix E List of Suppliers	443	(2)
Index	445