Lectins constitute a complex group of proteins found in different organisms. These proteins constitute an important field for research, as their structural diversity and affinity for several carbohydrates makes them suitable for numerous biological applications. This review addresses the classification and insecticidal activities of plant lectins, providing an overview of the applicability of these proteins in crop protection. The likely target sites in insect tissues, the mode of action of these proteins, as well as the use of lectins as biotechnological tools for pest control are also described. The use of initial bioassays employing artificial diets has led to the most recent advances in this field, such as plant breeding and the construction of fusion proteins, using lectins for targeting the delivery of toxins and to potentiate expected insecticide effects. Based on the data presented, we emphasize the contribution that plant lectins may make as tools for the development of integrated insect pest control strategies.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6272522 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules20022014 | DOI Listing |
Front Plant Sci
December 2024
Department of Plant Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
The Jacalin-related lectins () gene family play a crucial role in regulating plant development and responding to environmental stress. However, a systematic bioinformatics analysis of the gene family in Gramineae plants has been lacking. In this study, we identified 101 JRL proteins from five Gramineae species and classified them into eight distinct clades.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStem Cell Res Ther
January 2025
Biotherapy Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, P.R. China.
Background: As cell-free nanotherapeutics, extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-EVs) have shown potential therapeutic action against liver diseases. However, their effects on autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are not yet well understood.
Methods And Results: In this study, we utilized a well-established concanavalin A (Con A)-induced fulminant hepatitis mouse model to investigate the effects of MSC-EVs on AIH.
Insects
November 2024
Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
Aphids are small, notorious insect pests that negatively impact plant health and agricultural productivity through direct damage, such as sap-sucking, and indirectly as vectors of plant viruses. Plants respond to aphid feeding with a variety of molecular mechanisms to mitigate damage. These responses are diverse and highly dynamic, functioning either independently or in combination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
December 2024
Department of Biochemistry and Immunochemistry, Division of Chemistry and Immunochemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 48/50, 50-369 Wroclaw, Poland.
Prolactin induced-protein (PIP) has been found to be rich in immunomodulatory epitopes, including -acetyllactosamine (LacNAc) and ,-diacetyllactosamine (LacdiNAc) residues, which may constitute ligands for galecin-3 (Gal-3). In the current study, we aimed to investigate the reactivity of galactose- and -acetylgalactosamine-specific lectins with human seminal plasma PIP. Subsequently, we examined the direct interaction between seminal plasma PIP and galectin-3, and next analyzed whether there are any differences in the interaction associated with impaired semen parameters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
December 2024
Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro 76230, Querétaro, Mexico.
Recently, we reported that a recombinant Tepary bean () lectin (rTBL-1) induces apoptosis in colon cancer cell lines and that cytotoxicity was related to differential recognition of β1-6 branched -glycans. Sequencing analysis and resolution of the rTBL-1 3D structure suggest that glycan specificity could be strongly influenced by two arginine residues, R103 and R130, located in the carbohydrate binding pocket. The aim of this work was to determine the contribution of these residues towards cytotoxic activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!