Legume Lectins: Proteins with Diverse Applications.

ABSTRACT: Lectins are a diverse class of proteins distributed extensively in nature. Among these proteins; legume lectins display a variety of interesting features including antimicrobial; insecticidal and antitumor activities. Because lectins recognize and bind to specific glycoconjugates present on the surface of cells and intracellular structures; they can serve as potential target molecules for developing practical applications in the fields of food; agriculture; health and pharmaceutical research. This review presents the current knowledge of the main structural characteristics of legume lectins and the relationship of structure to the exhibited specificities; provides an overview of their particular antimicrobial; insecticidal and antitumor biological activities and describes possible applicat

SUBMITTER: Lagarda-Diaz I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5486065 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature