Induction of apoptosis by Polygonatum odoratum lectin and its molecular mechanisms in murine fibrosarcoma L929 cells.

Background: The Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA)-related lectins have been reported to bear antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activities in cancer cells; however, the precise mechanisms by which GNA-related lectins induce cell death are still only rudimentarily understood.

Methods: In the present study, Polygonatum odoratum lectin (designated POL), a mannose-binding specific GNA-related lectin, possessed a remarkable antiproliferative activity toward murine fibrosarcoma L929 cells. And, this lectin induced L929 cell apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner.

Induction of apoptosis by Concanavalin A and its molecular mechanisms in cancer cells.

Concanavalin A (Con A), a mannose/glucose-binding legume lectin, can induce cancer cell death through a mitochondria-mediated autophagic pathway; however, the precise mechanisms by which it mediates cell death are still only rudimentarily understood. In the present study, Con A possesses a remarkable antiproliferative effect on human melanoma A375 cells. Also, there is a link between the antiproliferative activity of Con A and its sugar-binding activity.

Antiproliferative activity and apoptosis-inducing mechanism of Concanavalin A on human melanoma A375 cells.

The objective of this study was to investigate the antiproliferative activity and apoptosis-inducing mechanism of Concanavalin A (ConA) on human melanoma A375 cells. We firstly simulated the three-dimensional structure of ConA. Subsequently, we found that ConA possessed remarkable antiproliferative effect on A375 cells.

Apoptosis-inducing effect and structural basis of Polygonatum cyrtonema lectin and chemical modification properties on its mannose-binding sites.

Polygonatum cyrtonema Lectin (PCL), which is classified as a monocot mannose-binding lectin, has received great regards for its uniquely biological activities and potentially medical applications in cancer cells. This paper was initially aimed to study apoptosis of PCL on Hela cells. Thus, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method was carried out.

A mannose-binding lectin from Sophora flavescens induces apoptosis in HeLa cells.

The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-tumor activity of a lectin from Sophora flavescens and explore its potential apoptotic induction mechanism. Here, an elegant series of biochemical and cell biology methods were carried out in a sequential procedure (e.g.