Handbook of Plant Lectins
Properties and Biomedical Applications

Els. J. M. Van Damme (Author), Willy J. Peumans (Author), Arpad Pusztai (Author), Susan Bardocz (Author)

9780471964452, Wiley

Hardback, published 14 January 1998

472 pages
24.8 x 17.4 x 3.2 cm, 1.021 kg

Plant lectins are extensively used as tools and as bioactiveproteins in different areas of biomedical and biological research.The Handbook of Plant Lectins provides a comprehensive yet conciseoverview of the biochemical properties, carbohydrate-bindingspecificity, biological activities and applications of most of thecurrently known plant lectins. This handbook consists of two majorsections: an introductory guide and a quick reference dictionary.Part I acquaints the newcomer to the lectin field with theessential information on lectins and their importance tobiomedicine:
* what are lectins?
* their carbohydrate-binding specificity
* effects on nutrition and immunology
* use in histochemistry
* application as therapeutic agents
Part II lists approximately 200 lectin entries in alphabeticalorder. Each entry deals with the lectin(s) of a particular plantand provides, (where known), details of:
* isolation and characterisation;
* sugar binding specificity;
* biological activities;
* applications;
* commercial availability; and,
* a bibliography.
Useful summary tables list lectins according to their specificity,thereby allowing the user to choose the best lectin for theirapplication. A list of suppliers is also provided. Handbook ofPlant Lectins will be of interest to biologists and biomedicalresearchers studying cell biology, cancer research, nutrition,immunology, pathology and physiology.

PART 1: INTRODUCTION TO LECTINS;
PLANT LECTINS: A SPECIAL CLASS OF PLANT PROTEINS: General Considerations About Plant Lectins;
Structure and Evolution of Plant Lectin Genes and Their Genes;
Classification and Nomenclature of Plant Lectins;
PLANT LECTINS IN MAMMALIAN NUTRITION, IMMUNOLOGY, METABOLISM AND AS ORAL THERAPEUTIC AND IMMUNE AGENTS: Introduction;
Lectin-Gut Interactions;
Modification of Epithelial Cell Glycosylation by Lectins;
Effect of Lectins on Gut Bacteria;
Systemic Effect of Lectins;
Lectins as Reagents in Immunology;
Lectins in the Identification and Separation of Lymphoid Cells;
Lectins as Immune Drugs;
LECTINS AS ORAL THERAPEUTIC AGENTS;
LECTIN HISTOCHEMISTRY IN HISTOLOGY AND HISTOPATHOLOGY: Carbohydrate Recognition in Tissue Sections;
Reverse Lectin Histochemistry and Neoglycoproteins;
PART 2: LECTIN CLASSIFICATION;
KEY TO THE USE OF LECTIN ENTRIES;
LECTIN ENTRIES;
Appendix A Classification Codes;
Appendix B Classification Of Lectins Into Lectin Groups;
Appendix C Classification Of Lectins According To Sugar Specificity;
Appendix D Sugar Structures Of Blood Group Antigens;
Appendix E Other Plant Species In Which Haemaeglutinating Activity Was Reported, But The Protein Not Purified;
Appendix F List Of Suppliers.

Subject Areas: Biology, life sciences [PS]