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

Journal Article · · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [3]; ;  [4];  [5];  [6];  [3];  [2]
  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, Vol. 350, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.09.149; PII: S0006-291X(06)02209-1; Copyright (c) 2006 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0006-291X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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