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.

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.

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

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