Laura Smith
Mushrooms have long been valued for their nutritional and therapeutic properties. They are a source of bioactive compounds, including lectins, which are non-immunoglobulin proteins that bind to diverse sugar structures. Lectins play a crucial role in various biological processes, such as cellular signaling, cell–cell interactions in the immune system, and host defense mechanisms. They exhibit antiviral, antitumor, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities, making them promising candidates for therapeutic agents in the treatment of various diseases. While lectins have been studied in plants, fungal lectins, including those from mushrooms, have gained attention due to their unique structural and functional characteristics. The exploration of mushroom lectins and their potential applications in medicine and biotechnology is an ongoing area of research.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of mushrooms with lectins | Agaricus species, Amanita pantherina, Boletus satanas, Coprinus cinereus, Ganoderma lucidum, Flammulina velutipes, Grifola frondosa, Hericium erinaceum, Ischnoderma resinosum, Lactarius deterrimus, Laetiporus sulphureus, Tricholoma mongolicum, Volvariella volvacea, Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Agrocybe aegerita, Pleurotus citrinopileatus |
| Molecular weight | 12-190 kDa |
| Sugar content | 0-18% |
| Carbohydrate specificities | Galactose, lactose, N-acetylgalactosamine, fucose, raffinose, N-glycolyneuraminic acid, N-acetyl-D-lactosamine |
| Monomeric, dimeric, trimeric, or tetrameric | Yes |
| Lectin isolation procedure | Ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, CM-celluloses, and Q-Sepharose, and gel filtration on Superdex 75 |
| Lectin N-terminal amino acid sequence | QYSQMAQVME |
| Lectin properties | Acid-labile, alkali-labile, heat-labile |
| Lectin sources | Mushroom fruiting bodies, mycelia |
| Lectin applications | Biomedical, biotechnological, therapeutic, antiviral, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, immunomodulating, antiproliferative |
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What You'll Learn
Lectins from edible mushrooms
Mushrooms are well-known for their nutritional and medicinal properties, as well as the variety of bioactive compounds they contain, including lectins. Lectins are non-immunoglobulin proteins that bind to various sugar structures with a high degree of selectivity. They are widely distributed in mushrooms' substrates and mycelium.
According to current research, there are at least 144 lectins that have been isolated and studied from mushrooms. Some of the mushrooms that contain these lectins include Tricholoma mongolicum, Agrocybe aegerita, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus citrinopileatus, Agrocybe cylindracea, and Volvariella volvacea.
The edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus, for example, is rich in metabolites and biologically active compounds, including lectins. The hypothesis is that the similarity of ABL (a type of lectin) with plant lectins is established through horizontal gene transfer upon endosymbiotics, suggesting an evolutionary relationship.
Mushroom lectins exhibit a range of chemical characteristics. They can be monomeric, dimeric, trimeric, or tetrameric, with molecular weights ranging from 12 to 190 kDa and sugar contents from 0 to 18%. Carbohydrate specificities vary, but commonly include galactose, lactose, and N-acetylgalactosamine.
The study of mushroom lectins has important implications. They have been acknowledged as valuable sources of biologically important compounds with potential applications in health sciences and biotechnological applications. For instance, they have been linked to immunomodulating, antiproliferative, and antiviral/antimicrobial activities. Additionally, they have shown promising antitumor activity in mice, inhibiting tumor growth by approximately 80% when administered intraperitoneally.
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Lectins' therapeutic potential
Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are highly specific for sugar groups that are part of other molecules. They are widespread in nature, and many foods contain these proteins. Some lectins can be harmful if consumed in large quantities or poorly cooked, such as raw kidney beans, which contain high levels of phytohemagglutinin. However, boiling or cooking with "wet" heat can render most lectins inactive.
Lectins have been isolated from distinct sources such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae, and animals. They are known to play important roles in the innate immune system, helping to mediate the first line of defence against invading microorganisms. They also play a role in self-nonself discrimination and likely modulate inflammatory and autoreactive processes.
The diverse therapeutic potential of lectins has been observed in studies. For instance, a mycelial lectin from Aspergillus nidulans microfungi demonstrated therapeutic potential against ulcerative colitis in rats. Seaweed lectins are widely studied due to their attractive biological activities, including antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Lectins from edible mushrooms have also been acknowledged as valuable sources of biologically important compounds with potential applications in health sciences.
The edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus, for example, is rich in metabolites and biologically active compounds. These compounds are associated with anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiviral, and antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, mushroom tyrosinase from this species is commercially available and used in the production of L-DOPA, an effective treatment for Parkinson's disease.
While some lectins have therapeutic potential, others may have adverse effects. For example, PPO, an enzyme found in A. bisporus, suppresses tumor growth but is also mutagenic and neurotoxic. Similarly, castor beans contain the potent lectin poison ricin, which can cause severe health issues. Therefore, while lectins offer therapeutic opportunities, further research and caution are necessary to understand their complex effects fully.
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Lectins' antiviral properties
Lectins are clusters of carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immune origin, found chiefly in plants. They have been found to have potent antiviral properties, particularly against SARS-CoV-2. The complement lectin pathway is a "first-line host defence" against viral infections that is activated by mannose-binding lectins. These mannose-specific/mannose-binding lectins (MBL) have anti-infectivity properties, induce the complement cascade pathway, and act as immunoadjuvants, DC-SIGN antagonists, or glycomimetic agents.
Lectins have been found to be effective antiviral agents against HIV, hepatitis, herpes, influenza, and ebola viruses. Cyanovirin-N (CV-N), a lectin originating in blue-green algae, has a wide range of antiviral properties. It targets the envelope glycoprotein gp120 on the HIV surface. Griffithsin (GRFT) is another potent antiviral lectin that has been the subject of two phase I clinical studies investigating its toxicity in healthy populations. GRFT has antiviral activity against HIV, HCV, and SARS-CoV.
Lectins from edible mushrooms have been found to have immunomodulating, antiproliferative, and antiviral/antimicrobial activities. However, the specific role of these molecules in host organisms is still not fully understood. Further research and development are needed to utilize these lectins in clinically useful drugs.
While lectins have promising antiviral properties, there are also challenges to their usage. Lectins raise concerns due to their cytotoxicity, mitogenicity, and pro-inflammatory properties. Additionally, they have size limitations, short stability, and are vulnerable to proteolytic lysis. To address these issues, protein engineering techniques have been applied to produce modified lectins, such as lectibodies.
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Lectins' antitumor properties
Lectins are highly specific proteins that bind to carbohydrates and are found in many plants, animals, and bacteria. They have been detected in virtually all kingdoms of life. Lectins from edible mushrooms are purified using traditional purification protocols involving salt precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, FPLC, gel filtration, and sometimes affinity chromatography.
Lectins have been shown to possess antitumor properties, making them valuable tools in cancer diagnosis and therapy. They can interact with free and/or cell surface oligosaccharides and differentially bind to cancer cells due to the altered cell surface glycans associated with malignant transformation. This specificity makes them useful in detecting malignant growth and as potential anticancer drugs. For example, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) was the first lectin shown to agglutinate cancer cells, indicating modified cell surface properties in malignant cells compared with noncancerous ones.
Mistletoe lectin, an agglutinin purified from European Viscum album, is the first plant lectin to enter clinical trials for cancer treatment. It has shown promising outcomes by inducing apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells. Mushroom lectins, such as those from Agaricus bisporus, have also been studied for their therapeutic potentials, including anticancer properties.
The structural and functional characterization of lectins from edible mushrooms is still in its early stages, and further research is needed to understand their biological properties and roles in host organisms. However, the available data suggests that lectins from edible mushrooms could be a valuable source of novel compounds with unique specificity and potential for biomedical and biotechnological applications, including cancer treatment.
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Lectins' role in biomedical research
Lectins are sugar-binding proteins that play a crucial role in biomedical research and applications. They are known for their specificity in recognising and binding to carbohydrates, particularly glycans. This unique specificity makes them valuable tools in various biomedical fields, including glycobiology, immunology, cancer research, and clinical microbiology.
In biomedical research, lectins are widely used as markers in cell typing, which is essential for immunology and cancer research. For example, lectins can distinguish between normal and cancerous cells, aiding in the identification and characterisation of cancer cells. Additionally, lectins have been used to study carbohydrate-protein interactions, contributing to advancements in the field of glycobiology. This field involves understanding the structure, synthesis, and degradation of carbohydrates and their role in various biological systems and processes.
Lectins also play a significant role in the development of new therapeutic drugs. For instance, lectins from edible mushrooms have exhibited anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties. These lectins have the potential to be developed into clinically useful drugs for treating various human diseases.
Furthermore, lectins are important in the innate immune system. Some lectins, like mannose-binding lectin, act as a first line of defence against invading microorganisms, helping to mediate attachment and binding of bacteria, viruses, and fungi to their targets. Additionally, certain lectins may interfere with the absorption of minerals, such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc, which has led to research into their potential role in inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes.
The UniLectin portal, launched in 2018, provides a comprehensive resource for researchers working with lectins. It offers a curated database, UniLectin3D, with over 2,400 3D-structures of lectins, enabling their classification, curation, and prediction. This platform supports researchers in selecting suitable lectins for their specific carbohydrate-binding research questions.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are lectins in mushrooms.
Lectins are non-immunoglobulin proteins that bind diverse sugar structures with a high degree of selectivity. They play a crucial role in various biological processes such as cellular signaling, scavenging of glycoproteins from the circulatory system, cell–cell interactions in the immune system, differentiation, and protein targeting to cellular compartments.
Yes, mushroom lectins are safe for human consumption and are known for their nutritional and medicinal values. They have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, particularly in China, Japan, and Korea.
Mushroom lectins have been found to possess antitumor, antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. They are also being explored for their potential use in therapy and the development of new therapeutic drugs for various human diseases.
Lectins from edible mushrooms are typically purified using traditional purification protocols involving salt precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, FPLC, gel filtration, and sometimes affinity chromatography. They are isolated from the fruiting bodies of mushrooms, and there have been instances where more than one lectin with different properties was isolated from a single mushroom.
