Purification and biological effects of Araucaria angustifolia (Araucariaceae) seed lectin

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.09.149· OSTI ID:20854602

Santi-Gadelha, Tatiane ^[1]; Aragao, Karoline Saboia ^[2]; Carvalho de Oliveira, Ceci'lia ^[2]; Lima Mota, Mario Rogerio ^[3]; Gomes, Raphaela Cardoso ^[3]; Freitas Pires, Alana de ^[3]; Toyama, Marcos Hikari; Oliveira Toyama, Daniela de ^[4]; Nunes de Alencar, Nylane Maria ^[5]; Criddle, David Neil ^[6]; Assreuy, Ana Maria Sampaio ^[3]; Cavada, Benildo Sousa ^[2]

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1. Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal da Parai'ba, Campus I, Joao Pessoa, Parai'ba (Brazil)
2. Departamento de Bioqui'mica, Universidade Federal do Ceara, Campus do Pici, s/n, Bloco 907, 60.455-970, Fortaleza, Ceara (Brazil)
3. Instituto Superior de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade Estadual do Ceara, Av. Paranjana 1700, 60740-000, Fortaleza, Ceara (Brazil)
4. Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas 13083-970, Campinas, SP (Brazil)
5. Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Ceara, Campus do Porangabucu, 60.451-970, Fortaleza, Ceara (Brazil)
6. MRC Secretory Control Research Group, Physiological Laboratory, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3BX (United Kingdom)

This paper describes the purification and characterization of a new N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-specific lectin from Araucaria angustifolia (AaL) seeds (Araucariaceae) and its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. AaL was purified using a combination of affinity chromatography on a chitin column and ion exchange chromatography on Sephacel-DEAE. The pure protein has 8.0 kDa (SDS-PAGE) and specifically agglutinates rabbit erythrocytes, effect that was independent of the presence of divalent cations and was inhibited after incubation with glucose and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. AaL showed antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains, shown by scanning electron microscopy. AaL, intravenously injected into rats, showed anti-inflammatory effect, via carbohydrate site interaction, in the models of paw edema and peritonitis. This lectin can be used as a tool for studying bacterial infections and inflammatory processes.

• OSTI ID: 20854602
• Journal Information: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Journal Name: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 350; ISSN BBRCA9; ISSN 0006-291X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CATIONS
CHITIN
EDEMA
ERYTHROCYTES
GLUCOSAMINE
GLUCOSE
INFLAMMATION
ION EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY
PERITONITIS
PROTEINS
PURIFICATION
RABBITS
RATS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY