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Generation of Alginate Microspheres for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 12, 2012
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Structural aspects and biomedical applications of microfungal lectins
Ram Sarup Singh1, Amandeep Kaur Walia1, John F Kennedy2
1Carbohydrate and Protein Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Punjabi University, Patiala 147 002, Punjab, India.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|May 20, 2019
Summary
Microfungal lectins are versatile biorecognition molecules with diverse structures and functions. This review highlights their potential biomedical applications, including anticancer and therapeutic uses.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Mycology
- Immunology
Background:
- Lectins are glycan-binding proteins crucial for cellular interactions.
- Microfungi are a rich source of lectins with diverse properties, though many genera remain unexplored.
- Understanding microfungal lectins is vital due to their varied biological activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the sources and structural diversity of microfungal lectins.
- To explore the characteristics of microfungal lectins, including haemagglutination and carbohydrate specificity.
- To extensively discuss the prospective biomedical applications of microfungal lectins.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of microfungal lectins.
- Analysis of lectin sources, characteristics, and structural variations.
- Compilation of data on biomedical applications.
Main Results:
- Microfungal lectins exhibit significant diversity in structure, haemagglutination, and carbohydrate specificity.
- Numerous microfungal genera remain uninvestigated for lectin potential.
- Lectins from Aspergilli, Penicillii, and Fusarium sp. are well-documented.
Conclusions:
- Microfungal lectins represent a promising area for discovering novel biorecognition molecules.
- Their diverse structural and functional properties suggest significant potential in various biomedical fields.
- Further research into unexplored microfungal genera could yield new therapeutic agents.
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