Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy.
Mar Drugs. 2023 Mar 8;21(3):171. doi: 10.3390/md21030171.
in a cosmopolitan ascidian, considered a reliable model organism for studies on the evolution of the immune system. rhamnose-binding lectin (BsRBL) is synthesised by circulating phagocytes and behaves as an opsonin by interacting with foreign cells or particles and acting as a molecular bridge between them and the phagocyte surface. Although described in previous works, many aspects and roles of this lectin in biology remain unknown. Here, we studied the subcellular distribution of BsRBL during immune responses using light and electron microscopy. In addition, following the hints from extant data, suggesting a possible role of BsRBL in the process of cyclical generation change or takeover, we investigated the effects of interfering with this protein, by injecting a specific antibody in the colonial circulation, starting one day before the generation change. Results confirm the requirement of the lectin for a correct generation change and open new queries on the roles of this lectin in biology.
在一种世界性的尾索动物中，被认为是研究免疫系统进化的可靠模式生物。岩藻糖结合凝集素（BsRBL）由循环吞噬细胞合成，通过与外来细胞或颗粒相互作用，并充当它们与吞噬细胞表面之间的分子桥，表现为调理素。尽管在以前的工作中已经描述过，但这种凝集素在生物学中的许多方面和作用仍然未知。在这里，我们使用光和电子显微镜研究了免疫反应过程中 BsRBL 的亚细胞分布。此外，根据现有数据的提示，表明 BsRBL 可能在周期性世代更替或接管过程中发挥作用，我们通过在殖民循环中注射特异性抗体来干扰这种蛋白质，从世代更替前一天开始。结果证实了凝集素对正确世代更替的必要性，并对该凝集素在生物学中的作用提出了新的疑问。
