Carbohydrate-dependent hemolytic activity of the conjugate composed of a C-type lectin, CEL-I, and an amphiphilic alpha-helical peptide, 4(3)-beta Ala2

Identification of Multiple Domains of Entamoeba histolytica Intermediate Subunit Lectin-1 with Hemolytic and Cytotoxic Activities

Galactose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-inhibitable lectin of Entamoeba histolytica have roles in the pathogenicity of intestinal amoebiasis. Igl1, the intermediate subunit lectin-1 of E. histolytica, has been shown to have both hemolytic and cytotoxic activities that reside in the C-terminus of the protein. To identify the amino acid regions responsible for these activities, recombinant proteins were prepared and used in hemolytic and cytotoxic assays. The results revealed that Igl1 has multiple domains with hemolytic and cytotoxic activities and that amino acids 787-846, 968-1028 and 1029-1088 are involved in these activities. The hemolytic activities of the fragments were partly inhibited by mannose, galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine, and glucose showed lower or negligible inhibitory effects for the activities. This is the first report of a protozoan protein with hemolytic and cytotoxic activities in multiple domains.

Marine pharmacology in 1999: compounds with antibacterial, anticoagulant, antifungal, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, antiprotozoal and antiviral activities affecting the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune and nervous systems, and other miscellaneous mechanisms of action

This review, a sequel to the 1998 review, classifies 63 peer-reviewed articles on the basis of the reported preclinical pharmacological properties of marine chemicals derived from a diverse group of marine animals, algae, fungi and bacteria. In all, 21 marine chemicals demonstrated anthelmintic, antibacterial, anticoagulant, antifungal, antimalarial, antiplatelet, antituberculosis or antiviral activities. An additional 23 compounds had significant effects on the cardiovascular, sympathomimetic or the nervous system, as well as possessed anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressant or fibrinolytic effects. Finally, 22 marine compounds were reported to act on a variety of molecular targets, and thus could potentially contribute to several pharmacological classes. Thus, during 1999 pharmacological research with marine chemicals continued to contribute potentially novel chemical leads in the ongoing global search for therapeutic agents for the treatment of multiple disease categories.