Sensorial, structural and functional response of rats subjected to hind limb immobilization.

Aims: This study analyzed the sensorial, structural and functional response of rats subjected to paw immobilization.

Main Methods: Animal pelvis, hip, knee and ankle were immobilized using waterproof tape during two weeks for assessment of sensorial response to thermal (hot plate test) and mechanical stimuli (Von Frey test), motor system structure (histology and radiography) and muscle function (soleus contractility).

Key Findings: Disuse animals became more responsive to thermal stimuli (49%), although less responsive to mechanical challenge (58%).

Homologous Canavalia lectins elicit different patterns of antinociceptive responses.

Canavalia gladiata (CGL), C. maritima (ConM) and C. brasiliensis (ConBr) lectins were evaluated in nociception models.

Crystal structure of Dioclea violacea lectin and a comparative study of vasorelaxant properties with Dioclea rostrata lectin.

Lectins from Diocleinae subtribe belong to the family of legume lectins and are characterized by high identity between their amino acids sequences. It has been shown that punctual differences in amino acid sequences, such as one single amino acid or an alternative conformation, represent changes in biological activities caused by these lectins. Therefore, a more detailed understanding of three-dimensional structures of these proteins is essential for accurate analyzing the relationship between structure and function.

Purification and partial characterization of a novel lectin from Dioclea lasiocarpa Mart seeds with vasodilator effects.

A lectin from seeds of Dioclea lasiocarpa (DLL) was purified in a single step by affinity chromatography in a Sephadex G-50 column. DLL haemagglutinated rabbit erythrocytes showing stability even after 1 h of exposure to a different pH values (optimal between pH 6.0 and 8.

Crystal structure of a pro-inflammatory lectin from the seeds of Dioclea wilsonii Standl.

The crystal structure and pro-inflammatory property of a lectin from the seeds of Dioclea wilsonii (DwL) were analyzed to gain a better understanding of structure/function relationships of Diocleinae lectins. Following crystallization and structural determination by standard molecular replacement techniques, DwL was found to be a tetramer based on PISA analysis, and composed by two metal-binding sites per monomer and loops which are involved in molecular oligomerization. DwL presents 96% and 99% identity with two other previously described lectins of Dioclea rostrata (DRL) and Dioclea grandiflora (DGL).

Crystallization and characterization of an inflammatory lectin purified from the seeds of Dioclea wilsonii.

DwL, a lectin extracted from the seeds of Dioclea wilsonii, is a metalloprotein with strong agglutinating activity against rabbit and ABO erythrocytes, inhibited by glucose and mannose. DwL was purified by affinity chromatography on a Sephadex G-50 column and ion exchange chromatography on a HiTrap SP XL column. SDS-PAGE revealed three electrophoretic bands corresponding to the α (25,634 ± 2 Da), β (12,873 ± 2 Da) and γ (12,779 ± 2 Da) chains.

In vivo anti-inflammatory effect of a sulfated polysaccharide isolated from the marine brown algae Lobophora variegata.

Context: Lobophora variegata J.V. Lamouroux (Dictyotaceae) is a brown marine alga widely encountered in the Brazilian sea coast that presents high content of fucans.

Vasodilator effects of Diocleinae lectins from the Canavalia genus.

This study investigated and compared vascular actions of leguminous lectins obtained from the Canavalia genus (Canavalia brasiliensis, Canavalia gladiata, and Canavalia maritima) in the rat models of paw edema and isolated aorta. Paw edema was induced by subcutaneous injection of lectins (0.01-1 mg/kg) in animals pre-treated or not with indomethacin or L-NAME.

Biological effects of a sulfated-polysaccharide isolated from the marine red algae Champia feldmannii.

Sulfated-polysaccharides are exploited as antithrombotic and anticoagulant agents and suggested to be immunostimulants. The sulfated-polysaccharide isolated from the red-marine-algae Champia feldmannii (Cf-PLS) was purified by ion exchange chromatography and tested in experimental protocols of coagulation, inflammation (in Wistar rats) and nociception (in Swiss mice). Cf-PLS was tested i.