Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins > Proteins > Lectins Terms and Definitions

Lectins

	Galectins - A class of animal lectins that bind specifically to beta-galactoside in a calcium-independent manner. Members of this class are distiguished from other lectins by the presence of a conserved carbohydrate recognition domain. The majority of proteins in this class bind to sugar molecules in a sulfhydryl-dependent manner and are often referred to as S-type lectins, however this property is not required for membership in this class.
	Lectins, C-Type - A class of animal lectins that bind to carbohydrate in a calcium-dependent manner. They share a common carbohydrate-binding domain that is structurally distinct from other classes of lectins.
	Mannose-Binding Lectins - A subclass of lectins that are specific for CARBOHYDRATES that contain MANNOSE.
	Plant Lectins - Protein or glycoprotein substances of plant origin that bind to sugar moieties in cell walls or membranes. Some carbohydrate-metabolizing proteins (ENZYMES) from PLANTS also bind to carbohydrates, however they are not considered lectins. Many plant lectins change the physiology of the membrane of BLOOD CELLS to cause agglutination, mitosis, or other biochemical changes. They may play a role in plant defense mechanisms.
	Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine - Cell surface receptors that bind to N-ACETYLGLUCOSAMINE.

Lectins Medical Definitions and Terms