Leaves of the Orchid Twayblade (Listera ovata) Contain a Mannose-Specific Lectin

Traditional, Therapeutic Uses and Phytochemistry of Terrestrial European Orchids and Implications for Conservation

The Orchidaceae family accounts for about 28,000 species, and most of them are mentioned in the folk medicine of nations around the world. The use of terrestrial orchids in European and Mediterranean regions has been reported since ancient times, but little information is available on their medicinal properties, as well as on their phytochemicals and biological activities. However, plant collection for human use is still listed as one of the main threats for terrestrial orchids, alongside other menacing factors such as wrong habitat management and disturbance to symbionts, such as pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi. Therefore, the primary aim of this review was to resume and discuss available information regarding the past and current popular uses of European orchids. We then grouped phytochemical data to evaluate the presence of bioactive compounds of pharmacological relevance, and we discussed whether these could support the therapeutic employment of the different organs. Finally, we briefly debated the sustainability of orchid utilizations, considering the different threatening factors and conservation actions including plant propagation methods.

35 years in plant lectin research: a journey from basic science to applications in agriculture and medicine

Plants contain an extended group of lectins differing from each other in their molecular structures, biochemical properties and carbohydrate-binding specificities. The heterogeneous group of plant lectins can be classified in several families based on the primary structure of the lectin domain. All proteins composed of one or more lectin domains, or having a domain architecture including one or more lectin domains in combination with other protein domains can be defined as lectins. Plant lectins reside in different cell compartments, and depending on their location will encounter a large variety carbohydrate structures, allowing them to be involved in multiple biological functions. Over the years lectins have been studied intensively for their carbohydrate-binding properties and biological activities, which also resulted in diverse applications. The present overview on plant lectins especially focuses on the structural and functional characteristics of plant lectins and their applications for crop improvement, glycobiology and biomedical research.

Status of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and complement system in COVID-19 patients and therapeutic applications of antiviral plant MBLs

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a virus called "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)." In the majority of patients, infection with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic or may cause only mild symptoms. However, in some patients, there can also be immunological problems, such as macrophage activation syndrome (CSS) that results in cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Comprehension of host-microbe communications is the critical aspect in the advancement of new therapeutics against infectious illnesses. Endogenous animal lectins, a class of proteins, may perceive non-self glycans found on microorganisms. Serum mannose-binding lectin (sMBL), as a part of the innate immune framework, recognizes a wide range of microbial microorganisms and activates complement cascade via an antibody-independent pathway. Although the molecular basis for the intensity of SARS-CoV-2 infection is not generally understood, scientific literature indicates that COVID-19 is correlated with unregulated activation of the complement in terms of disease severity. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), inflammation, and immune paralysis contribute to unregulated complement activation. Pre-existing genetic defects in MBL and their association with complement play a major role in immune response dysregulation caused by SARS-CoV-2. In order to generate anti-complement-based therapies in Covid-19, an understanding of sMBL in immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and complement is therefore essential. This review highlights the role of endogenous sMBL and complement activation during SARS-CoV-2 infection and their therapeutic management by various agents, mainly plant lectins, since antiviral mannose-binding plant lectins (pMBLs) offer potential applications in the prevention and control of viral infections.

Comprehensive list of lectins: origins, natures, and carbohydrate specificities

More than 100 years have passed since the first lectin ricin was discovered. Since then, a wide variety of lectins (lect means "select" in Latin) have been isolated from plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, as well as viruses, and their structures and properties have been characterized. At present, as many as 48 protein scaffolds have been identified as functional lectins from the viewpoint of three-dimensional structures as described in this chapter. In this chapter, representative 53 lectins are selected, and their major properties that include hemagglutinating activity, mitogen activity, blood group specificity, molecular weight, metal requirement, and sugar specificities are summarized as a comprehensive table. The list will provide a practically useful, comprehensive list for not only experienced lectin users but also many other non-expert researchers, who are not familiar to lectins and, therefore, have no access to advanced lectin biotechnologies described in other chapters.

Dendrobium findleyanum agglutinin: production, localization, anti-fungal activity and gene characterization

The recently reported Dendrobium findleyanum agglutinin (DFA) was identified and determined in different parts of D. findleyanum pseudobulbs by using Western blot analysis, LC-MS/MS, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and histochemical procedure. Western blot analysis of crude protein extract with horseradish peroxidase (HRP), a mannose-rich glycoprotein, showed only one band at 14.5 kDa, which had the same molecular mass as DFA. This band was a major band when the membrane was stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. The protein profiles from SDS-PAGE showed higher band intensity of the 14.5 kDa mannose-binding protein in nearly mature and mature stages, compared to very young and young stages of the orchid. In addition, the band intensity was to a great extent different between the swollen and the non-swollen internode of the pseudobulb. Using LC-MS/MS, the sequence tags of the 14.5-kDa protein bands from the node, swollen internode and non-swollen internode revealed that the protein was DFA. Histochemical procedure in the transverse section of the pseudobulbs demonstrated major HRP binding sites, which reflected the location of DFA, in periphery of parenchymal cells. The purified DFA showed anti-fungal activity against Alternaria alternata and Collectotrichum sp. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing, the deduced amino acid sequence of the DFA precursor revealed 94% homology with a lectin precursor from D. officinale. N-terminal sequencing demonstrated the processing site between residues 24 and 25 of the DFA precursor.

Dendrobium findleyanum agglutinin: production, localization, anti-fungal activity and gene characterization

The recently reported Dendrobium findleyanum agglutinin (DFA) was identified and determined in different parts of D. findleyanum pseudobulbs by using Western blot analysis, LC-MS/MS, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and histochemical procedure. Western blot analysis of crude protein extract with horseradish peroxidase (HRP), a mannose-rich glycoprotein, showed only one band at 14.5 kDa, which had the same molecular mass as DFA. This band was a major band when the membrane was stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. The protein profiles from SDS-PAGE showed higher band intensity of the 14.5 kDa mannose-binding protein in nearly mature and mature stages, compared to very young and young stages of the orchid. In addition, the band intensity was to a great extent different between the swollen and the non-swollen internode of the pseudobulb. Using LC-MS/MS, the sequence tags of the 14.5-kDa protein bands from the node, swollen internode and non-swollen internode revealed that the protein was DFA. Histochemical procedure in the transverse section of the pseudobulbs demonstrated major HRP binding sites, which reflected the location of DFA, in periphery of parenchymal cells. The purified DFA showed anti-fungal activity against Alternaria alternata and Collectotrichum sp. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing, the deduced amino acid sequence of the DFA precursor revealed 94% homology with a lectin precursor from D. officinale. N-terminal sequencing demonstrated the processing site between residues 24 and 25 of the DFA precursor.

Carbohydrate-binding agents (CBAs) inhibit HIV-1 infection in human primary monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and efficiently prevent MDM-directed viral capture and subsequent transmission to CD4+ T lymphocytes

Carbohydrate-binding agents (CBAs) have been proposed as innovative anti-HIV compounds selectively targeting the glycans of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 and preventing DC-SIGN-directed HIV capture by dendritic cells (DCs) and transmission to CD4(+) T-lymphocytes. We now show that CBAs efficiently prevent R5 HIV-1 infection of human primary monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) cell cultures in the nanomolar range. Both R5 and X4 HIV-1 strains were efficiently captured by the macrophage mannose-binding receptor (MMR) present on MDM. HIV-1 capture by MMR-expressing MDM was inhibited by soluble mannose-binding lectin and MMR antibody. Short pre-exposure of these HIV-1 strains to CBAs is able to prevent virus capture by MDM and subsequent syncytia formation in cocultures of the CBA-exposed HIV-1-captured MDM and uninfected CD4(+) T-lymphocytes. The potential of CBAs to impair MDM in their capacity to capture and to transmit HIV to T-lymphocytes might be an important property to be taken into consideration in the eventual choice to select microbicide candidate drugs for clinical investigation.

Entry of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus is selectively inhibited by carbohydrate-binding agents but not by polyanions

We studied the antiviral activity of carbohydrate-binding agents (CBAs), including several plant lectins and the non-peptidic small-molecular-weight antibiotic pradimicin A (PRM-A). These agents efficiently prevented hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of target cells by inhibiting the viral entry. CBAs were also shown to prevent HIV and HCV capture by DC-SIGN-expressing cells. Surprisingly, infection by other enveloped viruses such as herpes simplex viruses, respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza-3 virus was not inhibited by these agents pointing to a high degree of specificity. Mannan reversed the antiviral activity of CBAs, confirming their association with viral envelope-associated glycans. In contrast, polyanions such as dextran sulfate-5000 and sulfated polyvinylalcohol inhibited HIV entry but were devoid of any activity against HCV infection, indicating that they act through a different mechanism. CBAs could be considered as prime drug leads for the treatment of chronic viral infections such as HCV by preventing viral entry into target cells. They may represent an attractive new option for therapy of HCV/HIV coinfections. CBAs may also have the potential to prevent HCV/HIV transmission.

The alpha(1,2)-mannosidase I inhibitor 1-deoxymannojirimycin potentiates the antiviral activity of carbohydrate-binding agents against wild-type and mutant HIV-1 strains containing glycan deletions in gp120

Exposure of carbohydrate‐binding agents (CBAs) (i.e. the mannose‐specific plant lectins Hippeastrum hybrid agglutinin and Galanthus nivalis agglutinin) to HIV‐1 progressively select for mutant HIV‐1 strains that contain N‐glycan deletions in their envelope gp120. This results in resistance of the mutant virus strains to the CBAs. Exposure of such mutant virus strains to the α(1,2)‐mannosidase I inhibitor 1‐deoxymannojirimycin (DMJ) results in an enhanced suppression of mutant virus‐induced cytopathicity in CEM cell cultures. Moreover, when combined with CBAs at concentrations that showed poor if any suppression of mutant virus replication as single drugs, a synergistic antiviral activity of DMJ was observed. These observations argue for a combined exposure of CBAs and glycosylation inhibitors such as DMJ to HIV to afford a more pronounced suppression of virus replication, prior to, or during, CBA resistance development.

Carbohydrate-binding agents efficiently prevent dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN)-directed HIV-1 transmission to T lymphocytes

Exposure of HIV-1 to dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN)-expressing B-lymphoblast Raji cells (Raji/DC-SIGN) but not to wild-type Raji/0 cells results in the capture of HIV-1 particles to the cells as measured by the quantification of cell-associated p24 antigen. Cocultivation of HIV-1-captured Raji/DC-SIGN cells with uninfected CD4+ T lymphocyte C8166 cells results in abundant formation of syncytia within 36 h after cocultivation. Short preexposure of HIV-1 to carbohydrate-binding agents (CBA) dose dependently prevents the Raji/DC-SIGN cells from efficiently binding the virus particles, and no syncytia formation occurs upon subsequent cocultivation with C8166 cells. Thus, the mannose-specific [i.e., the plant lectins Hippeastrum hybrid agglutinin (HHA), Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA), Narcissus pseudonarcissus agglutinin; and Cymbidium agglutinin (CA); the procaryotic cyanovirin-N (CV-N); and the monoclonal antibody 2G12) and N-acetylglucosamine-specific (i.e., the plant lectin Urtica dioica agglutinin) CBAs efficiently abrogate the DC-SIGN-directed HIV-1 capture and subsequent transmission to T lymphocytes. In this assay, the CD4-down-regulating cyclotriazodisulfonamide derivative, the CXCR4 and CCR5 coreceptor antagonists 1-[[4-(1,4,8,11-tetrazacyclotetradec-1-ylmethyl)phenyl]methyl] - 1,4,8,11 - tetrazacyclotetradecane (AMD3100) and maraviroc, the gp41-binding enfuvirtide, and the polyanionic substances dextran sulfate (M(r) 5000), sulfated polyvinyl alcohol, and the naphthalene sulfonate polymer PRO-2000 were markedly less efficient or even completely ineffective. Similar observations were made in primary monocyte-derived dendritic cell cultures that were infected with HIV-1 particles that had been shortly pre-exposed to the CBAs CV-N, CA, HHA, and GNA and the polyanions DS-5000 and PRO-2000. The potential of CBAs, but not polyanions and other structural/functional classes of entry inhibitors, to impair DC-SIGN-expressing cells in their capacity of transmitting HIV to T lymphocytes might be an important property to be taken into consideration in the eventual choice to move microbicide candidate drugs to the clinical setting.

Mutational pathways, resistance profile, and side effects of cyanovirin relative to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 strains with N-glycan deletions in their gp120 envelopes

Limited data are available on the genotypic and phenotypic resistance profile of the alpha-(1-2)mannose oligomer-specific prokaryotic lectin cyanovirin (CV-N). Therefore, a more systematic investigation was carried out to obtain a better view of the interaction between CV-N and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120. When HIV-1-infected CEM cell cultures were exposed to CV-N in a dose-escalating manner, a total of eight different amino acid mutations exclusively located at N-glycosylation sites in the envelope surface gp120 were observed. Six of the eight mutations resulted in the deletion of high-mannose type N-glycans (i.e., at amino acid positions 230, 332, 339, 386, 392, and 448). Two mutations (i.e., at position 136 and 160) deleted a complex type N-glycan in the variable V1/V2 domain of gp120. The level of phenotypic resistance of the mutated virus strains against CV-N generally correlated with the number of glycan deletions in gp120, although deletion of the glycans at N-230, N-392, and N-448 generally afforded a more pronounced CV-N resistance than other N-glycan deletions. However, the extent of the decrease of antiviral activity of CV-N against the mutated virus strains was markedly less pronounced than observed for alpha(1-3)- and alpha(1-6)-mannose-specific plant lectins Hippeastrum hybrid agglutinin (HHA) and Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA), which points to the existence of a higher genetic barrier for CV-N. This is in agreement with a more consistent suppression of a wider variety of HIV-1 clades by CV-N than by HHA and GNA. Whereas the antiviral and in vitro antiproliferative activity of CV-N can be efficiently reversed by mannan, the pronounced mitogenic activity of CV-N on peripheral blood mononuclear cells was unaffected by mannan, indicating that some of the observed side effects of CV-N are unrelated to its carbohydrate specificity/activity.

Inhibition of HIV entry by carbohydrate-binding proteins

Carbohydrate-binding proteins (CBP) can be isolated from a variety of species, including procaryotes (i.e. cyanobacteria), sea corals, algae, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates. A number of them, in particular those CBP that show specific recognition for mannose (Man) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) are endowed with a remarkable anti-HIV activity in cell culture. The smallest CBP occur as monomeric peptides with a molecular weight of approximately 8.5 kDa. Many others are functionally dimers, trimers or tetramers, and their molecular weight can sometimes largely exceed 50 kDa. CBP can contain 2 to up to 12 carbohydrate-binding sites per single molecule, depending on the nature of the lectin and its oligomerization state. CBP qualify as potential anti-HIV microbicide drugs because they not only inhibit infection of cells by cell-free virus (in some cases in the lower nano- or even subnanomolar range) but they can also efficiently prevent virus transmission from virus-infected cells to uninfected T-lymphocytes. Their most likely mechanism of antiviral action is the interruption of virus entry (i.e. fusion) into its target cell. CBP presumably act by direct binding to the glycans that are abundantly present on the HIV-1 gp120 envelope. They may cross-link several glycans during virus/cell interaction and/or freeze the conformation of gp120 consequently preventing further interaction with the coreceptor. Several CBP were shown to have a high genetic barrier since multiple (>or=5) glycan deletions in the HIV envelope are necessary to provoke a moderate level of drug resistance. CBP are the prototypes of conceptionally novel chemotherapeutics with a unique mechanism of antiviral action, drug resistance profile and an intrinsic capacity to trigger a specific immune response against HIV strains after glycan deletions on their envelope occur in an attempt to escape CBP drug pressure.

Carbohydrate-binding Agents Cause Deletions of Highly Conserved Glycosylation Sites in HIV GP120

Mannose-binding proteins derived from several plants (i.e. Hippeastrum hybrid and Galanthus nivalis agglutinin) or prokaryotes (i.e. cyanovirin-N) inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication and select for drug-resistant viruses that show profound deletion of N-glycosylation sites in the GP120 envelope (Balzarini, J., Van Laethem, K., Hatse, S., Vermeire, K., De Clercq, E., Peumans, W., Van Damme, E., Vandamme, A.-M., Bolmstedt, A., and Schols, D. (2004) J. Virol. 78, 10617-10627; Balzarini, J., Van Laethem, K., Hatse, S., Froeyen, M., Van Damme, E., Bolmstedt, A., Peumans, W., De Clercq, E., and Schols, D. (2005) Mol. Pharmacol. 67, 1556-1565). Here we demonstrated that the N-acetylglucosamine-binding protein from Urtica dioica (UDA) prevents HIV entry and eventually selects for viruses in which conserved N-glycosylation sites in GP120 were deleted. In contrast to the mannose-binding proteins, which have a 50-100-fold decreased antiviral activity against the UDA-exposed mutant viruses, UDA has decreased anti-HIV activity to a very limited extent, even against those mutant virus strains that lack at least 9 of 22 ( approximately 40%) glycosylation sites in their GP120 envelope. Therefore, UDA represents the prototype of a new conceptual class of carbohydrate-binding agents with an unusually specific and targeted drug resistance profile. It forces HIV to escape drug pressure by deleting the indispensable glycans on its GP120, thereby obligatorily exposing previously hidden immunogenic epitopes on its envelope.

Marked depletion of glycosylation sites in HIV-1 gp120 under selection pressure by the mannose-specific plant lectins of Hippeastrum hybrid and Galanthus nivalis

The plant lectins from Hippeastrum hybrid (HHA) and Galanthus nivalis (GNA) are 50,000-D tetramers showing specificity for alpha-(1,3) and/or alpha-(1,6)-mannose oligomers. They inhibit HIV-1 infection at a 50% effective concentration of 0.2 to 0.3 microg/ml. Escalating HHA or GNA concentrations (up to 500 microg/ml) led to the isolation of three HIV-1(III(B)) strains in CEM T cell cultures that were highly resistant to HHA and GNA, several other related mannose-specific plant lectins, and the monoclonal antibody 2G12, modestly resistant to the mannose-specific cyanovirin, which is derived from a blue-green alga, but fully susceptible to other HIV entry inhibitors as well as HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors. These mutant virus strains were devoid of up to seven or eight of 22 glycosylation sites in the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 because of mutations at the Asn or Thr/Ser sites of the N-glycosylation motifs. In one of the strains, a novel glycosylation site was created near a deleted glycosylation site. The affected glycosylation sites were predominantly clustered in regions of gp120 that are not involved in the direct interaction with either CD4, CCR5, CXCR4, or gp41. The mutant viruses containing the deleted glycosylation sites were markedly more infectious in CEM T-cell cultures than wild-type virus.

A monomeric mannose-binding lectin from inner shoots of the edible chive (Allium tuberosum)

A mannose-binding lectin was isolated from the inner shoots of the chive Allium tuberosum. The procedure involved aqueous extraction, (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, dialysis to remove (NH4)2SO4, affinity chromatography on mannose-agarose, ion exchange chromatography on SP-Sepharose, gel filtration on Superdex 75, and ion exchange chromatography on Mono S. Lectin activity was adsorbed on mannose-agarose, SP-Sepharose, and Mono S. The lectin demonstrated a molecular weight of 13 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration, indicating that it is a single-chain protein. N-terminal sequence analysis revealed its remarkable homology to Allium cepa lectin and similarity to a lesser extent to lectins from members of the Amaryllidaceae, Orchidaceae, and Liliaceae. The lectin manifested mitogenic activity in murine splenocytes and inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase.

Molecular cloning and the cDNA-derived amino acid sequence of Narcissus tazetta isolectins

Recently several complete cDNAs encoding the Narcissus tazetta lectins (NTL) were cloned. The sequence analyses of the cloned DNAs reveal that there are at least three unidentical positive clones for NTLs. The primary structure of the three NTL clones contains a mature polypeptide consisting of 105 amino acids and a C-terminal peptide extension beyond the C-terminal amino acids Thr-Gly. There are two fixed-position cysteines within the protein domain (amino acids 29 and 52), which are probably involved in the disulfide-bond linkage within the molecules to confer the secondary structure of the mature lectin. One third of the deduced amino acid composition consisted of glycine, leucine, and asparagine. From the cDNA-derived amino acid sequences the three NTL clones are not identical and are suggested to be isolectins present in N. tazetta var. chinensis. This study further confirms the previous isolation of mannose-specific isolectins from Chinese daffodil leaves.

Isolation of a novel heterodimeric agglutinin from rhizomes of Smilax glabra, the Chinese medicinal material tufuling

A heterodimeric agglutinin with a molecular mass of 32 kDa, and comprised of a 15 and a 17 kDa-subunit, was isolated from Smilax glabra rhizomes. The isolation protocol entailed ion exchange chromatography on CM-Sepharose, DEAE-cellulose and Resource Q and gel filtration on Superose 12. The two agglutinin subunits resembled each other and lectins from other Liliaceae plants in N-terminal sequence. The hemagglutinating activity of the agglutinin was unstable under acidic and alkaline conditions and when exposed to temperatures at or higher than 50 degrees C. The activity was not altered by a number of monovalent, divalent and trivalent cations, nor by a variety of sugars and glycoproteins.

Lectins from bulbs of the Chinese daffodil Narcissus tazetta (family Amaryllidaceae)

The isolation of three lectins with similar N-terminal amino acid sequences from the bulbs of the Chinese daffodil Narcissus tazetta was achieved. The isolation protocol involved ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, affinity chromatography on mannose-agarose, and fast protein liquid chromatography-gel filtration on Superose 12. The lectins were all adsorbed on mannose-agarose and demonstrated a single band with a molecular weight of 13 kDa in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a single 26 kDa peak in gel filtration, indicating that they were mannose-binding, dimeric proteins. The lectins differed in hemagglutinating activity, with the magnitude of the activity correlating with the ionic strength of the buffer required to elute the lectin from the DEAE-cellulose column. The bulb lectin did not exert potent cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines or fetal bovine lung cells but inhibited syncytium formation in, and reinstated viability of, fetal bovine lung cells infected with bovine immunodeficiency virus.

Mannose-specific isolectins with different hemagglutinating potencies isolated from Chinese daffodil (Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis) leaves

Three mannose-specific lectins exhibiting considerable similarities in NH2-terminal amino acid sequence were isolated from leaves of the Chinese daffodil Narcissus tazetta (Family Amaryllidaceae). The purification protocol involved extraction with an aqueous buffer, anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose using stepwise elution with increasing salt concentrations, affinity chromatography on mannose-agarose, and FPLC-gel filtration on Superose 12. From the peak unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose, and two peaks adsorbed on the ion exchanger and eluted respectively with 0.2 M Tris-HCl buffer and 0.5 M NaCl, were prepared fractions which yielded isolectins 1, 2, and 3 after adsorption on mannose-agarose and FPLC-gel filtration. All three isolectins were homodimers with a molecular weight of 26 kDa. The lectin unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose had the lowest, while the most strongly adsorbed lectin had the highest hemagglutinating activity.

Xanthosoma sagittifolium tubers contain a lectin with two different types of carbohydrate-binding sites

An unusual lectin possessing two distinctly different types of carbohydrate-combining sites was purified from tubers of Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. by consecutive passage through two affinity columns, i.e. asialofetuin-Sepharose and invertase-Sepharose. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, N-terminal amino acid sequencing, and gel filtration chromatography of the purified lectin showed that the X. sagittifolium lectin is a heterotetrameric protein composed of four 12-kDa subunits (alpha(2)beta(2)) linked by noncovalent bonds. The results obtained by quantitative precipitation and hapten inhibition assays revealed that the lectin has two different types of carbohydrate-combining sites: one type for oligomannoses, which preferentially binds to a cluster of nonreducing terminal alpha1,3-linked mannosyl residues, and the other type for complex N-linked carbohydrates, which best accommodates a non-sialylated, triantennary oligosaccharide with N-acetyllactosamine (i.e. Galbeta1,4GlcNAc-) or lacto-N-biose (i.e. Galbeta1,3GlcNAc-) groups at its three nonreducing termini.

A new high molecular weight agglutinin from garlic (Allium sativum)

Erythrocyte agglutination by lectins from Allium sativum was inhibited only by mannose of the sugars tested. However, asialofetuin was more effective inhibitor of agglutination as compared to mannose. This led to the use of an asialofetuin-silica affinity column to isolate agglutinins of 110 and 25 kDa (ASA110 and ASA25). While ASA25 is a dimeric protein comprising of subunits of 12.5 and 13.0 kDa, ASA110 is a glycoprotein of two identical subunits of 47 kDa. ASA110 revealed to have a high content of aspartic acid, glycine, leucine and serine but low content of cysteine and methionine. It contains 14 residues of neutral sugars in addition to 43 residues of hexosamines per mole of lectin and requires metal ions for its functional conformation. Serological cross-reactions with other species showed some common epitopes of ASA110 and ASA25 present in A. porrum, A. ascalonicum, Narcissus alba, PHA and Con A but not in A. cepa. ASA110 with CHO cells indicated it to be weakly cytotoxic with LD50 of 160 microg/ml.

The NeuAc(alpha-2,6)-Gal/GalNAc-binding lectin from elderberry (Sambucus nigra) bark, a type-2 ribosome-inactivating protein with an unusual specificity and structure

The cDNA encoding the NeuAc(alpha-2,6)Gal/GalNAc binding lectin from elderberry (Sambucus nigra) bark (SNAI) was isolated from a cDNA library constructed with mRNA from the bark. Sequence analysis of this lectin cDNA revealed a striking similarity to the previously sequenced type-2 ribosome-inactivating proteins from Ricinus communis and Abrus precatorius. Molecular modelling of SNAI further indicated that its structure closely resembles that of ricin. Since SNAI strongly inhibits cell-free protein synthesis in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate it presumably is a type-2 ribosome-inactivating protein. However, SNAI differs from all previously described type-2 ribosome-inactivating proteins by its specificity towards NeuAc(alpha-2,6)Gal/GalNAc and its unusual molecular structure.

Purification of a N-acetyl-D-galactosamine specific lectin from the orchid Laelia autumnalis

From the pseudobulbs of the orchid L. autumnalis a lectin was purified on immobilized porcine mucin with A + H blood group substance. This lectin is a dimeric glycoprotein of M(r) 12,000 with an Sw,20 of 2.2, showing haemagglutinating activity directed mainly to human A1 desialylated erythrocytes. The lectin possesses sugar specificity for N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and also shows high specificity for glycoproteins containing the T (galactose beta 1,3GA1NAc alpha 1,0 Ser/Thr) or the Tn antigen (GalNAc alpha 1,0 Ser/Thr).

The major tuber storage protein of araceae species is a lectin. Characterization and molecular cloning of the lectin from Arum maculatum L

A new lectin was purified from tubers of Arum maculatum L. by affinity chromatography on immobilized asialofetuin. Although this lectin is also retained on mannose-Sepharose 4B, under the appropriate conditions free mannose is a poor inhibitor of its agglutination activity. Pure preparations of the Arum lectin apparently yielded a single polypeptide band of approximately 12 kD upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, N-terminal sequencing of the purified protein combined with molecular cloning of the lectin have shown that the lectin is composed of two different 12-kD lectin subunits that are synthesized on a single large precursor translated from an mRNA of approximately 1400 nucleotides. Lectins with similar properties were also isolated from the Araceae species Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott, and Dieffenbachia sequina Schott. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration of the different Araceae lectins have shown that they are tetrameric proteins composed of lectin subunits of 12 to 14 kD. Interestingly, these lectins are the most prominent proteins in the tuber tissue. Evidence is presented that a previously described major storage protein of Colocasia tubers corresponds to the lectin.

The bark of Robinia pseudoacacia contains a complex mixture of lectins. Characterization of the proteins and the cDNA clones

Two lectins were isolated from the inner bark of Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust). The first (and major) lectin (called RPbAI) is composed of five isolectins that originate from the association of 31.5- and 29-kD polypeptides into tetramers. In contrast, the second (minor) lectin (called RPbAII) is a hometetramer composed of 26-kD subunits. The cDNA clones encoding the polypeptides of RPbAI and RPbAII were isolated and their sequences determined. Apparently all three polypeptides are translated from mRNAs of approximately 1.2 kb. Alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences of the different clones indicates that the 31.5- and 29-kD RPbAI polypeptides show approximately 80% sequence identity and are homologous to the previously reported legume seed lectins, whereas the 26-kD RPbAII polypeptide shows only 33% sequence identity to the previously described legume lectins. Modeling the 31.5-kD subunit of RPbAI predicts that its three-dimensional structure is strongly related to the three-dimensional models that have been determined thus far for a few legume lectins. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA isolated from Robinia has revealed that the Robinia bark lectins are the result of the expression of a small family of lectin genes.

Lectin-mediated effects on HIV type 1 infection in vitro

Lectins with specificity for terminal mannose residues and anti-mannan antibodies neutralize HIV-1 infection in vitro. This is assumed to be caused by binding of the agents to the viral glycoproteins. In this study we show that one such agent, the Galanthus nivalis lectin (GNA), also blocks infection at the target cell level. To explore the effect of GNA on HIV infection we used the two HIV-1 isolates LAV and NDK, representing in the first case a prototype virus and in the latter case a highly cytopathic virus, which spreads preferentially via cell-to-cell contact. MT-4 cells were used as target cells and infection was determined from the occurrence of syncytia. Cell-to-cell infection was studied with CEM cells persistently infected with the two virus isolates. GNA, at concentrations in the nanogram per milliliter range, neutralized the HIV-1 isolates LAV, NDK, and MN as well as HIV-2ROD. Pretreatment of cells with the lectin, before addition of virus, or of infected cells, also blocked infection. This effect was more pronounced with HIV-1NDK than with HIV-1LAV. Mannosidase treatment of the target cells abolished the GNA effect on HIV-1NDK infection. It is concluded that GNA inhibits infection of several HIV isolates. It neutralizes infection by binding to the virion but also blocks infection at the target cell level. The latter effect may be different for different virus isolates. Mannosyl residuals at the cell surface are targets for GNA modulation of infection with the cytopathic HIV-1NDK. These do not represent essential virus receptors.

The monomeric and dimeric mannose-binding proteins from the Orchidaceae species Listera ovata and Epipactis helleborine: sequence homologies and differences in biological activities

The Orchidaceae species Listera ovata and Epipactis helleborine contain two types of mannose-binding proteins. Using a combination of affinity chromatography on mannose-Sepharose-4B and ion exchange chromatography on a Mono-S column eight different mannose-binding proteins were isolated from the leaves of Listera ovata. Whereas seven of these mannose-binding proteins have agglutination activity and occur as dimers composed of lectin subunits of 11-13 kDa, the eighth mannose-binding protein is a monomer of 14 kDa devoid of agglutination activity. Moreover, the monomeric mannose-binding protein does not react with an antiserum raised against the dimeric lectin and, in contrast to the lectins, is completely inactive when tested for antiretroviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and type 2. Mannose-binding proteins with similar properties were also found in the leaves of Epipactis helleborine. However, in contrast to Listera only one lectin was found in Epipactis. Despite the obvious differences in molecular structure and biological activities molecular cloning of different mannose-binding proteins from Listera and Epipactis has shown that these proteins are related and some parts of the sequences show a high degree of sequence homology indicating that they have been conserved through evolution.

Characterization and molecular cloning of mannose-binding lectins from the Orchidaceae species Listera ovata, Epipactis helleborine and Cymbidium hybrid

Mannose-binding lectins were purified from the leaves of three Orchidaceae species, namely Listera ovata (twayblade), Epipactis helleborine (broad-leaved helleborine) and Cymbidium hybrid, using affinity chromatography on Mannose - Sepharose-4B. Apparently, the Orchidaceae lectins are dimeric proteins composed of lectin subunits of 12-13 kDa. All of the isolated lectins exhibit exclusive specificity towards mannose. A cDNA library constructed from poly(A) rich RNA isolated from leaves of L. ovata was screened for cDNA clones encoding the lectin using colony hybridization. Since N-terminal sequence analysis of the twayblade lectin revealed some sequence similarity to the previously cloned mannose-binding lectin Hippeastrum hybrid (amaryllis) ovaries, the amaryllis lectin cDNA clone was used as a probe to screen the L. ovata library. Subsequently, the cDNA clone encoding the L. ovata lectin was used to screen the cDNA libraries from the taxonomically related orchid species Cymbidium hybrid and E. helleborine. Sequence analysis of the lectin cDNA clones from different Orchidaceae species revealed approximately 50% sequence similarity both at the nucleotide and amino acid level. The Orchidaceae lectins are apparently translated from mRNAs consisting of approximately 800 nucleotides. The primary translation products are preproproteins which are converted into the mature lectins following post-translational modifications. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA has shown that the lectins are most probably encoded by a family of closely related genes which is in good agreement with the sequence heterogeneity found between different lectin cDNA clones of one species.

The alpha-mannosyl-binding lectin from leaves of the orchid twayblade (Listera ovata). Application to separation of alpha-D-mannans from alpha-D-glucans

The carbohydrate-binding specificity of an alpha-D-mannose-specific lectin isolated from leaves of the orchid twayblade (Listera ovata) was elucidated by quantitative precipitation of mannose-containing polysaccharides and glycoproteins, hapten inhibition, and affinity chromatography on the immobilized lectin. L. ovata agglutinin (LOA) interacted with various alpha-mannans and galactomannans of yeasts, fungi and bacteria, but not with alpha-glucans, e.g., dextran and glycogen, as do mannose/glucose-binding lectins. This lectin, LOA, appears to be highly specific for alpha 1-3 mannosidic linkages. It reacted with a linear alpha 1-3-mannan (D. P. 15) and, surprisingly, even with a linear alpha 1-3-mannoheptasaccharide. The LOA/C. tropicalis mannan precipitation reaction was inhibited by alpha-linked mannooligosaccharides, in the order, alpha 1-3 > alpha 1-6 > alpha 1-2 linkages; alpha 1-3 [Man]4 and [Man]5 were the best inhibitors among various mannooligosaccharides tested, having 7-times greater potency than alpha 1-3 [Man]2, and 18-times that of methyl, alpha-mannoside. LOA/mannan interaction was also inhibited by periodate-oxidized and reduced alpha 1-3 [Man]5 which had an inhibitory potency similar to that of alpha 1-3 [Man]3, confirming that LOA also recognizes the internal alpha 1-3-mannosidic linkages of carbohydrate chains. Complete resolution of mannan and glycogen from yeast cells, by affinity chromatography on an immobilized LOA column, and retention of several high-mannose-glycoproteins suggest this lectin to be a useful tool for purification and structural investigation of alpha-mannosyl-containing polysaccharides and glycoconjugates.

Cloning and characterization of the lectin cDNA clones from onion, shallot and leek

Characterization of the lectins from onion (Allium cepa), shallot (A. ascalonicum) and leek (A. porrum) has shown that these lectins differ from previously isolated Alliaceae lectins not only in their molecular structure but also in their ability to inhibit retrovirus infection of target cells. cDNA libraries constructed from poly(A)-rich RNA isolated from young shoots of onion, shallot and leek were screened for lectin cDNA clones using colony hybridization. Sequence analysis of the lectin cDNA clones from these three species revealed a high degree of sequence similarity both at the nucleotide and at the amino acid level. Apparently the onion, shallot and leek lectins are translated from mRNAs of ca. 800 nucleotides. The primary translation products are preproproteins (ca. 19 kDa) which are converted into the mature lectin polypeptides (12.5-13 kDa) after post-translational modifications. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA has shown that the lectins are most probably encoded by a family of closely related genes which is in good agreement with the sequence heterogeneity found between different lectin cDNA clones of one species.

The mannose-specific plant lectins from Cymbidium hybrid and Epipactis helleborine and the (N-acetylglucosamine)n-specific plant lectin from Urtica dioica are potent and selective inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus and cytomegalovirus replication in vitro

A series of four mannose(Man)-, three N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)n-, ten N-acetylgalactosamine/galactose(GalNAc/Gal)-, one 5-acetylneuraminic acid (alpha-2,3-Gal/GalNAc)- and one 5-acetylneuroaminic acid(alpha-2,6-Gal/Gal-NAc)-specific plant agglutinins were evaluated for their antiviral activity in vitro. the mannose-specific lectins from the orchid species Cymbidium hybrid (CA), Epipactis helleborine (EHA) and Listera ovata (LOA) were highly inhibitory to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) in MT-4, and showed a marked anti-human cytomegalovirus (CMV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A virus activity in HEL, HeLa and MDCK cells, respectively. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) of CA and EHA for HIV ranged from 0.04 to 0.08 micrograms/ml, that is about 3 orders of magnitude below their toxicity threshold (50% inhibitory concentration for MT-4 cell growth: 54 to 60 micrograms/ml). Also, the (GlcNAc)n-specific lectin from Urtica dioica (UDA) was inhibitory to HIV-1-, HIV-2-, CMV-, RSV- and influenza A virus-induced cytopathicity at an EC50 ranging from 0.3 to 9 micrograms/ml. The GalNAc/Gal-, alpha-2,3-Gal/GalNAc- or alpha-2,6-Gal/GalNAc-specific lectins were not inhibitory to HIV or CMV at non-toxic concentrations. CA, EHA and UDA proved to be potent inhibitors of syncytium formation between persistently HIV-1- and HIV-2-infected HUT-78 cells and CD4+ Molt/4 (clone 8) cells (EC50: 0.2-2 micrograms/ml). Unlike dextran sulfate, the plant lectins CA, EHA and UDA did not interfere with HIV-1 adsorption to MT-4 cells and RSV- and influenza A virus adsorption to HeLa and MDCK cells, respectively. They presumably interact at the level of virion fusion with the target cell.

Alpha-(1-3)- and alpha-(1-6)-D-mannose-specific plant lectins are markedly inhibitory to human immunodeficiency virus and cytomegalovirus infections in vitro

The alpha-(1-3)-D-mannose- and alpha-(1-6)-D-mannose-specific agglutinins (lectins) from Galanthus nivalis, Hippeastrum hybrid, Narcissus pseudonarcissus, and Listera ovata inhibited infection of MT-4 cells by human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) and simian immunodeficiency virus at concentrations comparable to the concentrations at which dextran sulfate (molecular weight, 5,000 [DS-5000]) inhibits these viruses (50% effective concentration, 0.2 to 0.6 microgram/ml). Unlike DS-5000, however, the plant lectins did not inhibit the replication of other enveloped viruses, except for human cytomegalovirus (50% effective concentration, 0.9 to 1.6 microgram/ml). The plant lectins suppressed syncytium formation between persistently HIV-1- or HIV-2-infected HUT-78 cells and uninfected MOLT-4 (clone 8) cells at concentrations that were 5- to 10-fold lower than that required for DS-5000. Unlike DS-5000, however, the plant lectins did not inhibit HIV-1 binding to CD4+ cells. Combination of the plant lectins with DS-5000 led to a potent synergistic inhibition of HIV-1-induced cytopathogenicity in MT-4 cells and syncytium formation between HIV-infected HUT-78 cells and MOLT-4 cells. Our data suggest that alpha-(1-3)-D- and alpha-(1-6)-D-mannose-specific plant lectins interfere with an event in the HIV replicative cycle that is subsequent to the attachment of the virions to the cells (i.e., the fusion process).