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Updated: Aug 27, 2025

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A Lectin HPLC Method to Enrich Selectively-glycosylated Peptides from Complex Biological Samples
Published on: October 1, 2009
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[Basic Research on Bullfrog Egg-derived Sialic Acid-binding Lectin for Cancer Treatment]
1Division of Cell Recognition Study, Institute of Molecular Biomembrane and Glycobiology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University.
Yakugaku Zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
|October 2, 2022
Summary
Sialic acid-binding lectin (cSBL) from Rana catesbeiana demonstrates potent, cancer cell-selective antitumor effects by degrading RNA and inducing apoptosis. This leczyme shows promise as a novel anticancer drug with minimal side effects, potentially revolutionizing cancer treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Sialic acid-binding lectin from Rana catesbeiana (cSBL) is a multifunctional protein with both lectin and ribonuclease activity, termed a leczyme.
- cSBL exhibits selective antitumor effects on various cancer cells in vitro and in vivo without observable side effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antitumor mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications of cSBL.
- To explore the synergistic effects of cSBL with other anticancer agents.
- To identify molecular targets and gene expression changes induced by cSBL treatment.
Main Methods:
- In vitro and in vivo cancer cell models.
- Analysis of RNA degradation and apoptosis pathways (mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stress).
- Gene expression profiling and analysis of specific cancer-related molecules.
Main Results:
- cSBL induces apoptosis by degrading cellular RNA, mediated by mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stress.
- cSBL exhibits synergistic antitumor effects when combined with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand and pemetrexed.
- Long-term cSBL treatment leads to pleiotropic gene expression changes, including alterations in metabolic pathways and downregulation of key cancer-related molecules (e.g., human epidermal growth factor receptors).
Conclusions:
- cSBL possesses favorable properties as an anticancer drug due to its selective toxicity and ability to induce apoptosis.
- cSBL's ability to modulate gene expression and reduce specific cancer-related molecules suggests broad therapeutic potential.
- These findings support the development of novel therapeutic strategies and drug regimens involving cSBL for cancer treatment.

