Lectins

These are carbohydrate-binding proteins characterized by high specificity for attached carbohydrate groups. Lectins are important for biological recognition processes both between cells and between proteins. For example, certain viruses during infection bind to host cells through lectins. Lectins were initially discovered in plants. It is believed that they are involved in germination, sucrose transport, and accumulation processes, protecting plants from phytopathogenic microorganisms and insects. It has recently been proven that lectins exist not only in plants but in all living organisms, including microorganisms, insects, animals, and humans, although their biological significance is still being studied. Endogenous lectins are involved in various biological processes such as inflammation, immune reactions, etc. The action of lectins is inhibited by specific mono- or oligosaccharides that bind to these proteins and inhibit their interaction with membranes.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė