Structural study and antimicrobial and wound healing effects of lectin from Solieria filiformis (Kützing) P.W.Gabrielson.

The SfL-1 isoform from the marine red algae Solieria filiformis was produced in recombinant form (rSfL-1) and showed hemagglutinating activity and inhibition similar to native SfL. The analysis of circular dichroism revealed the predominance of ß-strands structures with spectra of ßI-proteins for both lectins, which had Melting Temperature (Tm) between 41 °C and 53 °C. The three-dimensional structure of the rSfL-1 was determined by X-ray crystallography, revealing that it is composed of two ß-barrel domains formed by five antiparallel ß chains linked by a short peptide between the ß-barrels. SfL and rSfL-1 were able to agglutinate strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and did not show antibacterial activity. However, SfL induced a reduction in E. coli biomass at concentrations from 250 to 125 µg mL-1, whereas rSfL-1 induced reduction in all concentrations tested. Additionally, rSfL-1 at concentrations from 250 to 62.5 µg mL-1, showed a statistically significant reduction in the number of colony-forming units, which was not noticed for SfL. Wound healing assay showed that the treatments with SfL and rSfL-1 act in reducing the inflammatory response and in the activation and proliferation of fibroblasts by a larger and fast deposition of collagen.

L-Rhamnose-binding lectin from eggs of the Echinometra lucunter: Amino acid sequence and molecular modeling.

An L-rhamnose-binding lectin named ELEL was isolated from eggs of the rock boring sea urchin Echinometra lucunter by affinity chromatography on lactosyl-agarose. ELEL is a homodimer linked by a disulfide bond with subunits of 11 kDa each. The new lectin was inhibited by saccharides possessing the same configuration of hydroxyl groups at C-2 and C-4, such as L-rhamnose, melibiose, galactose and lactose. The amino acid sequence of ELEL was determined by tandem mass spectrometry. The ELEL subunit has 103 amino acids, including nine cysteine residues involved in four conserved intrachain disulfide bonds and one interchain disulfide bond. The full sequence of ELEL presents conserved motifs commonly found in rhamnose-binding lectins, including YGR, DPC and KYL. A three-dimensional model of ELEL was created, and molecular docking revealed favorable binding energies for interactions between ELEL and rhamnose, melibiose and Gb3 (Galα1-4Galß1-4Glcß1-Cer). Furthermore, ELEL was able to agglutinate Gram-positive bacterial cells, suggesting its ability to recognize pathogens.

Molecular characterization and tandem mass spectrometry of the lectin extracted from the seeds of Dioclea sclerocarpa Ducke.

Lectin from the seeds of Dioclea sclerocarpa (DSL) was purified in a single step by affinity chromatography on a Sephadex G-50 column. The primary sequence, as determined by tandem mass spectrometry, revealed a protein with 237 amino acids and 81% of identity with ConA. DSL has a molecular mass of 25,606 Da. The ß and γ chains weigh 12,873 Da and 12,752 Da, respectively. DSL hemagglutinated rabbit erythrocytes (both native and treated with proteolytic enzymes), showing stability even after one hour of exposure to a specific pH range. The hemagglutinating activity of DSL was optimal between pH 6.0 and 8.0, but was inhibited after incubation with D-galactose and D-glucose. The pure protein possesses a molecular mass of 25 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 25,606 Da by mass spectrometry. The secondary structure content was estimated using the software SELCON3. The results indicate that b-sheet secondary structures are predominant in DSL (approximately 42.3% antiparallel b-sheet and 6.7% parallel b-sheet). In addition to the b-sheet, the predicted secondary structure of DSL features 4.1% a-helices, 15.8% turns and 31.3% other contributions. Upon thermal denaturation, evaluated by measuring changes in ellipticity at 218 nm induced by a temperature increase from 20 °C to 98 °C, DSL displayed cooperative sigmoidal behavior with transition midpoint at 84 °C and permitted the observation of two-state model (native and denatured).

Umbelliferone induces changes in the structure and pharmacological activities of Bn IV, a phospholipase A(2) isoform isolated from Bothrops neuwiedi.

In this paper was demonstrated that umbelliferone induces changes in structure and pharmacological activities of Bn IV, a lysine 49 secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA2) from Bothrops neuwiedi. Incubation of Bn IV with umbelliferone virtually abolished platelet aggregation, edema, and myotoxicity induced by native Bn IV. The amino acid sequence of Bn IV showed high sequence similarities with other Lys49 sPLA2s from B. jararacussu (BthTx-I), B. pirajai (PrTx-I), and B. neuwiedi pauloensis (Bn SP6 and Bn SP7). This sPLA2 also has a highly conserved C-terminal amino acid sequence, which has been shown as important for the pharmacological activities of Lys49 sPLA2. Sequencing of Bn IV previously treated with umbelliferone revealed modification of S(1) and S(20). Fluorescent spectral analysis and circular dichroism (CD) studies showed that umbelliferone modified the secondary structure of this protein. Moreover, the pharmacological activity of Bn IV is driven by synergism of the C-terminal region with the α-helix motifs, which are involved in substrate binding of the Asp49 and Lys49 residues of sPLA2 and have a direct effect on the Ca(2+)-independent membrane damage of some secretory snake venom PLA2. For Bn IV, these interactions are potentially important for triggering the pharmacological activity of this sPLA2.

Toxicity of some glucose/mannose-binding lectins to Biomphalaria glabrata and Artemia salina.

Schistosomiasis or bilharzia, which affects millions of people living in Africa, Asia and Latin America, is closely associated with certain species of aquatic snails. One way of attacking the disease is to eradicate the host snails. Molluscicidal activities of natural compounds are especially important in the widespread control of this tropical disease. As part of our search for natural compounds with molluscicidal properties for the vector control of schistosomiasis, we are now evaluating for the first time the toxicity of the plant lectins from Canavalia brasiliensis (ConBr), Cratylia floribunda (CFL), Dioclea guianensis (Dgui), Dioclea grandiflora (DGL) and Dioclea virgata (Dvir) to Biomphalaria glabrata Say and Artemia salina Leach. Results indicate that all the samples were toxic to A. salina Leach, some of them with values of lethal concentration that kills 90% of the population (LC(90))<10 microg mL(-1). They are also active against B. glabrata Say, killing 100% of adult snails, at a concentration of 50 microg mL(-1). The lectins CFL and Dgui possess properties lethal to mollusks, with values of LC(90)=50.3 microg mL(-1) and LC(90)=41.0 microg mL(-1), respectively.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the lectin from Canavalia boliviana Piper seeds.

Plant lectins are the most studied group of carbohydrate-binding proteins. Despite the high similarity between the members of the Diocleinae subtribe (Leguminosae) group, they present differing biological activities. Canavalia boliviana lectin (Cbol) was purified using a Sephadex G-50 column and crystallized in the presence of X-Man by hanging-drop vapour diffusion at 293 K. After optimization, crystals suitable for diffraction were obtained under the condition 0.1 M HEPES pH 7.5 and 3.0 M sodium formate. The crystal belonged to the monoclinic space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 126.70, b = 66.64, c = 64.99 A, alpha = 90.0, beta = 120.8, gamma = 90.0 degrees . Assuming the presence of a dimer in the asymmetric unit, the solvent content was estimated to be about 46%. A complete data set was collected at 1.5 A resolution.

Structural analysis of Canavalia maritima and Canavalia gladiata lectins complexed with different dimannosides: new insights into the understanding of the structure-biological activity relationship in legume lectins.

Plant lectins, especially those purified from species of the Leguminosae family, represent the best studied group of carbohydrate-binding proteins. The legume lectins from Diocleinae subtribe are highly similar proteins that present significant differences in the potency/efficacy of their biological activities. The structural studies of the interactions between lectins and sugars may clarify the origin of the distinct biological activities observed in this high similar class of proteins. In this way, this work presents a crystallographic study of the ConM and CGL (agglutinins from Canavalia maritima and Canavalia gladiata, respectively) in the following complexes: ConM/CGL:Man(alpha1-2)Man(alpha1-O)Me, ConM/CGL:Man(alpha1-3)Man(alpha1-O)Me and ConM/CGL:Man(alpha1-4)Man(alpha1-O)Me, which crystallized in different conditions and space group from the native proteins. The structures were solved by molecular replacement, presenting satisfactory values for R(factor) and R(free). Comparisons between ConM, CGL and ConA (Canavalia ensiformis lectin) binding mode with the dimannosides in subject, presented different interactions patterns, which may account for a structural explanation of the distincts biological properties observed in the lectins of Diocleinae subtribe.

New crystal forms of Diocleinae lectins in the presence of different dimannosides.

Studying the interactions between lectins and sugars is important in order to explain the differences observed in the biological activities presented by the highly similar proteins of the Diocleinae subtribe. Here, the crystallization and preliminary X-ray data of Canavalia gladiata lectin (CGL) and C. maritima lectin (CML) complexed with Man(alpha1-2)Man(alpha1)OMe, Man(alpha1-3)Man(alpha1)OMe and Man(alpha1-4)Man(alpha1)OMe in two crystal forms [the complexes with Man(alpha1-3)Man(alpha1)OMe and Man(alpha1-4)Man(alpha1)OMe crystallized in space group P3(2) and those with Man(alpha1-2)Man(alpha1)OMe crystallized in space group I222], which differed from those of the native proteins (P2(1)2(1)2 for CML and C222 for CGL), are reported. The crystal complexes of ConA-like lectins with Man(alpha1-4)Man(alpha1)OMe are reported here for the first time.