Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP 50.670-901 Recife, PE, Brazil.
Departamento de Medicina, Universidade de Pernambuco, R. Capitão Pedro Rodrigues, 105 - São José, CEP 55.295-110 Garanhuns, PE, Brazil.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2019 Nov 1;140:234-244. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.08.059. Epub 2019 Aug 7.
Carbohydrate-binding proteins, also known as lectins, are valuable tools for biotechnology, including pharmacological uses. Mannose lectins obtained from plant and animal sources are applied to protection and characterization of autoimmune diseases as well as defense proteins against pathogens. The presence of mannose-binding lectins in plants that also recognize glucose could be entitled Man/Glc lectins; such specificity has allowed employing these vegetal lectins for several applications. Animal mannose-binding lectins are synthesized in the liver and secreted into the blood stream where both concentration and activity are greatly affected due to gene polymorphisms; these serum proteins play important roles in the immune system by recognizing mannose-like carbohydrate ligands found exclusively on pathogenic microorganisms. Mannose lectins already showed strong binding to relevant bacteria, viruses, protozoa and helminth species, initiating potent host defense mechanisms by inducing growth inhibition or death of such organisms; the ability to prevent the formation or destruction of microbial biofilms has also been reported. Mannose-binding lectins have attracted considerable attention against carcinogenesis and atherogenesis. The aim of this review article is to approach biotechnology characteristics of these lectins from different sources and microorganism/cell surface interactions with mannose; in addition, aspects of mechanisms associated to lectin antipathogenic activities are described.
碳水化合物结合蛋白，又称凝集素，是生物技术的有价值工具，包括药理学用途。从植物和动物来源获得的甘露糖结合凝集素被应用于保护和表征自身免疫性疾病以及防御蛋白对抗病原体。在也能识别葡萄糖的植物中存在甘露糖结合凝集素，可以称之为 Man/Glc 凝集素；这种特异性允许将这些植物凝集素用于多种应用。动物甘露糖结合凝集素在肝脏中合成并分泌到血液中，由于基因多态性，其浓度和活性都受到很大影响；这些血清蛋白通过识别仅存在于致病性微生物上的甘露糖样碳水化合物配体，在免疫系统中发挥重要作用。甘露糖结合凝集素已经表现出对相关细菌、病毒、原生动物和寄生虫物种的强烈结合，通过诱导这些生物体的生长抑制或死亡来启动有效的宿主防御机制；还报道了防止微生物生物膜形成或破坏的能力。甘露糖结合凝集素在抗癌和动脉粥样硬化方面引起了相当大的关注。本文综述的目的是从不同来源和微生物/细胞表面与甘露糖的相互作用来探讨这些凝集素的生物技术特性；此外，还描述了与凝集素抗病原体活性相关的机制方面。
