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




Plant Lectins

Medical Definition: 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.
Also Called: Agglutinins, Plant
Previously Indexed: Lectins (1963-2002)
Plant Lectins Categories.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Abrin - A toxic lectin from the seeds of jequirity, Abrus precatorius L. Very active poison. Five different proteins have so far been isolated: Abrus agglutinin, the component responsible for hemagglutininating activity, & abrins a-d, the toxic principles each consisting of two peptide chains are held together by disulfide bonds.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Concanavalin A - A MANNOSE/GLUCOSE binding lectin isolated from the jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis). It is a potent mitogen used to stimulate cell proliferation in lymphocytes, primarily T-lymphocyte, cultures.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Peanut Agglutinin - Lectin purified from peanuts (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA). It binds to poorly differentiated cells and terminally differentiated cells and is used in cell separation techniques.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Pokeweed Mitogens - Proteins isolated from the roots of the pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, that agglutinate some erythrocytes, stimulate mitosis and antibody synthesis in lymphocytes, and induce activation of plasma cells.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Wheat Germ Agglutinins - Lectins purified from the germinating seeds of common wheat (Triticum vulgare); these bind to certain carbohydrate moieties on cell surface glycoproteins and are used to identify certain cell populations and inhibit or promote some immunological or physiological activities. There are at least two isoforms of this lectin.

Plant Lectins Medical Definitions and Terms

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