Cloning and characterization of a monocot mannose-binding lectin from Crocus vernus (family Iridaceae).

The molecular structure and carbohydrate-binding activity of the lectin from bulbs of spring crocus (Crocus vernus) has been determined unambiguously using a combination of protein analysis and cDNA cloning. Molecular cloning revealed that the lectin called C. vernus agglutinin (CVA) is encoded by a precursor consisting of two tandemly arrayed lectin domains with a reasonable sequence similarity to the monocot mannose-binding lectins. Post-translational cleavage of the precursor yields two equally sized polypeptides. Mature CVA consists of two pairs of polypeptides and hence is a heterotetrameric protein. Surface plasmon resonance studies of the interaction of the crocus lectin with high mannose-type glycans showed that the lectin interacts specifically with exposed alpha-1,3-dimannosyl motifs. Molecular modelling studies confirmed further the close relationships in overall fold and three-dimensional structure of the mannose-binding sites of the crocus lectin and other monocot mannose-binding lectins. However, docking experiments indicate that only one of the six putative mannose-binding sites of the CVA protomer is active. These results can explain the weak carbohydrate-binding activity and low specific agglutination activity of the lectin. As the cloning and characterization of the spring crocus lectin demonstrate that the monocot mannose-binding lectins occur also within the family Iridaceae a refined model of the molecular evolution of this lectin family is proposed.     

单子叶甘露糖结合凝集素的结构及生物活性

单子叶甘露糖结合凝集素(monocot mannose-binding lectin,MBL)是植物凝集素超家族中具有甘露糖及其衍生物结合专一性的糖结合蛋白,对肿瘤细胞、逆转录病毒具有特异而强烈的抑制作用。作为甘露糖翻译器,MBL在糖组学研究中也扮演着重要的角色。迄今为止,对害虫具有良好抗性的转雪花莲、半夏凝集素基因的水稻、小麦、马铃薯、烟草等农作物均已成功问世,可见MBL在医学和农业应用领域都呈现出巨大的开发价值和广阔的应用前景。本文列举了近20年来新发现的几种典型的MBL,并对其分布、分子结构、糖结合专一性、系统进化、生理作用等方面进行了概述。     

cDNA cloning and characterization of a mannose-binding lectin fromZingiber officinaleRoscoe (ginger) rhizomes

Using RNA extracted fromZingiber officinale rhizomes and primers designed according to the conservative regions of monocot mannose-binding lectins, the full-length cDNA ofZ. officinale agglutinin (ZOA) was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA ofzoa was 746 bp and contained a 510 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a lectin precursor of 169 amino acids with a signal peptide. ZOA was a mannose-binding lectin with three typical mannose-binding sites (QDNY). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed thatzoa expressed in all the tested tissues ofZ. officinale including leaf, root and rhizome, suggesting it to be a constitutively expressing form. ZOA protein was successfully expressed inEscherichia coli with the molecular weight expected. To our knowledge, this is the first mannose-binding lectin cDNA cloned from the family Zingiberaceae. Our results demonstrate that monocot mannose-binding lectins also occur within the family Zingiberaceae     

Crystal structure of a β-prism II lectin from Remusatia vivipara

The crystal structure of a β-prism II (BP2) fold lectin from Remusatia vivipara, a plant of traditional medicinal value, has been determined at a resolution of 2.4??. This lectin (RVL, Remusatia vivipara lectin) is a dimer with each protomer having two distinct BP2 domains without a linker between them. It belongs to the "monocot mannose-binding" lectin family, which consists of proteins of high sequence and structural similarity. Though the overall tertiary structure is similar to that of lectins from snowdrop bulbs and garlic, crucial differences in the mannose-binding regions and oligomerization were observed. Unlike most of the other structurally known proteins in this family, only one of the three carbohydrate recognition sites (CRSs) per BP2 domain is found to be conserved. RVL does not recognize simple mannose moieties. RVL binds to only N-linked complex glycans like those present on the gp120 envelope glycoprotein of HIV and mannosylated blood proteins like fetuin, but not to simple mannose moieties. The molecular basis for these features and their possible functional implications to understand the different levels of carbohydrate affinities in this structural family have been investigated through structure analysis, modeling and binding studies. Apart from being the first structure of a lectin to be reported from the Araceae/Arum family, this protein also displays a novel mode of oligomerization among BP2 lectins.     

Apoptosis-inducing effect and structural basis of Polygonatum cyrtonema lectin and chemical modification properties on its mannose-binding sites

Polygonatum cyrtonema Lectin (PCL), which is classified as a monocot mannose-binding lectin, has received great regards for its uniquely biological activities and potentially medical applications in cancer cells. This paper was initially aimed to study apoptosis of PCL on Hela cells. Thus, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method was carried out. Through observation of cell morphologic changes and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity-based cytotoxicity assays, PCL induced HeLa cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. To further gain structural basis, multiple alignments, homology modeling and docking experiments were performed to analyze the correlation between its biological activities and mannose-binding sites. Eventually, considering docking data, chemical modification properties on the three mannose-binding sites were analyzed by a series of biological experiments (e.g., hemagglutinating and mitogenic activity assays, fluorescence and Circular Dichrosim (CD) spectroscopy) to profoundly identify the role of some key amino acids in the structure-function relationship of PCL.     

Structural characterisation of the native fetuin-binding protein Scilla campanulata agglutinin: a novel two-domain lectin

The three-dimensional structure of a 244-residue, multivalent, fetuin-binding lectin, SCAfet, isolated from bluebell (Scilla campanulata) bulbs, has been solved at 3.3 A resolution by molecular replacement using the coordinates of the 119-residue, mannose-binding lectin, SCAman, also from bluebell bulbs. Unlike most monocot mannose-binding lectins, such as Galanthus nivalis agglutinin from snowdrop bulbs, which fold into a single domain, SCAfet contains two domains with approximately 55% sequence identity, joined by a linker peptide. Both domains are made up of a 12-stranded beta-prism II fold, with three putative carbohydrate-binding sites, one on each subdomain. SCAfet binds to the complex saccharides of various animal glycoproteins but not to simple sugars.     

Bioinformatics analyses of the mannose-binding lectins from Polygonatum cyrtonema,Ophiopogon japonicus and Liparis noversa with antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activities

In the present study, three typical monocot mannose-binding lectins (e.g., Polygonatum cyrtonema lectin [PCL], Ophiopogon japonicus lectin [OJL] and Liparis noversa lectin [LNL]), were reported to possess a similar tertiary structure with three mannose-binding sites and a close phylogenetic relationship. Subsequently, these lectins were found to bear remarkable inhibitory effects on the growth of MCF-7 cells. Further experiments confirmed that there is a link among the hemagglutinating activity, antiproliferative activity and mannose-binding activity. In addition, these lectins were shown to induce MCF-7 cell apoptosis and caspase was found to be involved in this apoptotic pathway. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that the different antiproliferative effects may be due to the conserved motifs of mannose-binding sites. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that these lectins induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells via a caspase-dependent pathway.     

Mannose-binding plant lectins: different structural scaffolds for a common sugar-recognition process

Mannose-specific lectins are widely distributed in higher plants and are believed to play a role in recognition of high-mannose type glycans of foreign micro-organisms or plant predators. Structural studies have demonstrated that the mannose-binding specificity of lectins is mediated by distinct structural scaffolds. The mannose/glucose-specific legume (e.g., Con A, pea lectin) exhibit the canonical twelve-stranded beta-sandwich structure. In contrast to legume lectins that interact with both mannose and glucose, the monocot mannose-binding lectins (e.g., the Galanthus nivalis agglutinin or GNA from bulbs) react exclusively with mannose and mannose-containing N-glycans. These lectins possess a beta-prism structure. More recently, an increasing number of mannose-specific lectins structurally related to jacalin (e.g., the lectins from the Jerusalem artichoke, banana or rice), which also exhibit a beta-prism organization, were characterized. Jacalin itself was re-defined as a polyspecific lectin which, in addition to galactose, also interacts with mannose and mannose-containing glycans. Finally the B-chain of the type II RIP of iris, which has the same beta-prism structure as all other members of the ricin-B family, interacts specifically with mannose and galactose. This structural diversity associated with the specific recognition of high-mannose type glycans highlights the importance of mannose-specific lectins as recognition molecules in higher plants.     

The liverwort contains a lectin that is structurally and evolutionary related to the monocot mannose-binding lectins

A mannose (Man)-binding lectin has been isolated and characterized from the thallus of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. N-terminal sequencing indicated that the M. polymorpha agglutinin (Marpola) shares sequence similarity with the superfamily of monocot Man-binding lectins. Searches in the databases yielded expressed sequence tags encoding Marpola. Sequence analysis, molecular modeling, and docking experiments revealed striking structural similarities between Marpola and the monocot Man-binding lectins. Activity and specificity studies further indicated that Marpola is a much stronger agglutinin than the Galanthus nivalis agglutinin and exhibits a preference for methylated Man and glucose, which is unprecedented within the family of monocot Man-binding lectins. The discovery of Marpola allows us, for the first time, to corroborate the evolutionary relationship between a lectin from a lower plant and a well-established lectin family from flowering plants. In addition, the identification of Marpola sheds a new light on the molecular evolution of the superfamily of monocot Man-binding lectins. Beside evolutionary considerations, the occurrence of a G. nivalis agglutinin homolog in a lower plant necessitates the rethinking of the physiological role of the whole family of monocot Man-binding lectins.     

A novel tetrameric lectin from Lycoris aurea with four mannose binding sites per monomer

The mannose-binding agglutinin from bulbs of Lycoris aurea (LAA) agglutinates rabbit but not human erythrocytes. The molecular mass of the monomer in SDS/PAGE is 12 kDa while the apparent molecular mass in gel filtration is 48 kDa, indicating that LAA is a homotetramer. The full-length cDNA of LAA contains 683 bp with an open reading frame encoding a protomer of 162 amino-acid residues. Hydrophobic Cluster Analysis and molecular modeling of the 109-residue mature polypeptide suggested a similar secondary and tertiary structure to those of Narcissus pseudonarcissus agglutinin (NPA). Molecular docking revealed that, besides the three mannose-binding sites common among Amaryllidaceae lectins, LAA also contains a fourth unique mannose-binding site formed by a tryptophan cluster. The existence of four mannose-binding sites in each monomer of LAA is very unusual and has only been reported for NPA earlier.     

Multiplicity of carbohydrate-binding sites in beta-prism fold lectins: occurrence and possible evolutionary implications

The beta-prism II fold lectins of known structure, all from monocots, invariably have three carbohydrate-binding sites in each subunit/domain. Until recently, beta-prism I fold lectins of known structure were all from dicots and they exhibited one carbohydrate-binding site per subunit/domain. However, the recently determined structure of the beta-prism fold I lectin from banana, a monocot, has two very similar carbohydrate-binding sites. This prompted a detailed analysis of all the sequences appropriate for two-lectin folds and which carry one or more relevant carbohydrate-binding motifs. The very recent observation of a beta-prism I fold lectin, griffthsin, with three binding sites in each domain further confirmed the need for such an analysis. The analysis demonstrates substantial diversity in the number of binding sites unrelated to the taxonomical position of the plant source. However, the number of binding sites and the symmetry within the sequence exhibit reasonable correlation. The distribution of the two families of beta-prism fold lectins among plants and the number of binding sites in them, appear to suggest that both of them arose through successive gene duplication, fusion and divergent evolution of the same primitive carbohydrate-binding motif involving a Greek key. Analysis with sequences in individual Greek keys as independent units lends further support to this conclusion.It would seem that the preponderance of three carbohydrate-binding sites per domain in monocot lectins, particularly those with the beta-prism II fold, is related to the role of plant lectins in defence.     

Isolation and characterization of a new mannose-binding lectin gene from<Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus media</Emphasis>

In this paper, we report the cloning and characterization of the first mannose-binding lectin gene from a gymnosperm plant species,Taxus media. The full-length cDNA ofT. media agglutinin (TMA) consisted of 676 bp and contained a 432 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 144 amino acid protein. Comparative analysis showed that TMA had high homology with many previously reported plant mannose-binding lectins and thattma encoded a precursor lectin with a 26-aa signal peptide. Molecular modelling revealed that TMA was a new mannosebinding lectin with three typical mannose-binding boxes like lectins from species of angiosperms. Tissue expression pattern analyses revealed thattma is expressed in a tissue-specific manner in leaves and stems, but not in fruits and roots. Phylogenetic tree analyses showed that TMA belonged to the structurally and evolutionarily closely related monocot mannose-binding lectin superfamily. This study provides useful information to understand the molecular evolution of plant lectins.     

Anti-tumor and anti-viral activities of Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA)-related lectins

Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA)-related lectin family, a superfamily of strictly mannose-binding specific lectins widespread among monocotyledonous plants, is well-known to possess a broad range of biological functions such as anti-tumor, anti-viral and anti-fungal activities. Herein, we mainly focused on exploring the precise molecular mechanisms by which GNA-related lectins induce cancer cell apoptotic and autophagic death targeting mitochondria-mediated ROS-p38-p53 apoptotic or autophagic pathway, Ras-Raf and PI3K-Akt anti-apoptotic or anti-autophagic pathways. In addition, we further discussed the molecular mechanisms of GNA-related lectins exerting anti-viral activities by blocking the entry of the virus into its target cells, preventing transmission of the virus as well as forcing virus to delete glycan in its envelope protein and triggering neutralizing antibody. In conclusion, these findings may provide a new perspective of GNA-related lectins as potential drugs for cancer and virus therapeutics in the future.     

Multiplicity of carbohydrate-binding sites in <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-prism fold lectins: occurrence and possible evolutionary implications

The β-prism II fold lectins of known structure, all from monocots, invariably have three carbohydrate-binding sites in each subunit/domain. Until recently, β-prism I fold lectins of known structure were all from dicots and they exhibited one carbohydrate-binding site per subunit/domain. However, the recently determined structure of the β-prism fold I lectin from banana, a monocot, has two very similar carbohydrate-binding sites. This prompted a detailed analysis of all the sequences appropriate for two-lectin folds and which carry one or more relevant carbohydrate-binding motifs. The very recent observation of a β-prism I fold lectin, griffithsin, with three binding sites in each domain further confirmed the need for such an analysis. The analysis demonstrates substantial diversity in the number of binding sites unrelated to the taxonomical position of the plant source. However, the number of binding sites and the symmetry within the sequence exhibit reasonable correlation. The distribution of the two families of β-prism fold lectins among plants and the number of binding sites in them, appear to suggest that both of them arose through successive gene duplication, fusion and divergent evolution of the same primitive carbohydrate-binding motif involving a Greek key. Analysis with sequences in individual Greek keys as independent units lends further support to this conclusion. It would seem that the preponderance of three carbohydrate-binding sites per domain in monocot lectins, particularly those with the β-prism II fold, is related to the role of plant lectins in defence.     

Pinellia ternata agglutinin produced in Bombyx mori cells exhibits bioactivity

Pinellia ternata agglutinin (PTA) is highly homologous to many other monocot mannose-binding lectins which reportedly possess antitumor activities. Its production in silkworm cells has great application potential because the baculovirus expression system can produce post-translationally modified proteins at low cost. In the current study, the pta gene was cloned and expressed in silkworm cells, and the expressed protein was analyzed using a hemagglutination assay. A preliminary in vitro study on its anti-proliferative activity was performed. The results show that the recombinant PTA with an apparent molecular mass of 29 kDa can hemagglutinate rabbit erythrocytes and this activity can be inhibited by D-mannan at a low concentration. In addition, the recombinant hemagglutinin exhibited a dose-dependent anti-proliferative activity on hepatoma cells. The results of the current study suggest that PTA and other important bioactive proteins could be produced by silkworm bioreactor for biomedicine research and application.     

Anti-HIV Ⅰ/Ⅱ Activity and Molecular Cloning of a Novel Mannose/Sialic Acidbinding Lectin from Rhizome of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua

The anti-human immunodeficiency virus （HIV） Ⅰ/Ⅱ activity of a mannose and sialic acid binding lectin isolated from rhizomes of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua was elucidated by comparing its HIV infection inhibitory activity in MT-4 and CEM cells with that of other mannose-binding lectins （MBLs）. The anti-HIV activity of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua lectin （PCL） was 10- to 100-fold more potent than other tested MBLs, but without significant cytotoxicity towards MT-4 or CEM cells. To amplify cDNA of PCL by 3＇/5＇-rapid amplification of cDNA ends （RACE）, the 30 amino acids of N-terminal were determined by sequencing and the degenerate oligonucleotide primers were designed. The full-length cDNA of PCL contained 693 bp with an open reading frame encoding a precursor protein of 160 amino acid residues, consisting of a 28-residue signal peptide, a 22-residue C-terminal cleavage peptide and a 110-residue mature polypeptide which contained three tandemly arranged subdomains with an obvious sequence homology to the monocot MBL. However, only one active mannose-binding site （QDNVY） was found in subdomain Ⅰ of PCL, that of subdomain Ⅱ and Ⅲ changed to HNNVY and PDNVY, respectively. There was no intron in PCL, which was in good agreement with other monocot MBLs. Molecular modeling of PCL indicated that its three-dimensional structure resembles that of the snowdrop agglutinin. By docking, an active sialic acid-binding site was found in PCL. The instabilization of translation initiation region （TIR） in mRNA of PCL benefits its high expression in rhizomes.     

Structural mechanism governing the quaternary organization of monocot mannose-binding lectin revealed by the novel monomeric structure of an orchid lectin

Two isoforms of an antifungal protein, gastrodianin, were isolated from two subspecies of the orchid Gastrodia elata, belonging to the protein superfamily of monocot mannose-specific lectins. In the context that all available structures in this superfamily are oligomers so far, the crystal structures of the orchid lectins, both at 2.0 A, revealed a novel monomeric structure. It resulted from the rearrangement of the C-terminal peptide inclusive of the 12th beta-strand, which changes from the "C-terminal exchange" into a "C-terminal self-assembly" mode. Thus, the overall tertiary scaffold is stabilized with an intramolecular beta-sheet instead of the hybrid observed on subunit/subunit interface in all known homologous dimeric or tetrameric lectins. In contrast to the constrained extended conformation with a cis peptide bond between residues 98 and 99 commonly occurring in oligomers, a beta-hairpin forms from position 97 to 101 with a normal trans peptide bond at the corresponding site in gastrodianin, which determines the topology of the C-terminal peptide and thereby its unique fold pattern. Sequence and structure comparison shows that residue replacement and insertion at the position where the beta-hairpin occurs in association with cis-trans inter-conversion of the specific peptide bond (97-98) are possibly responsible for such a radical structure switch between monomers and oligomers. Moreover, this seems to be a common melody controlling the quaternary states among bulb lectins through studies on sequence alignment. The observations revealed a structural mechanism by which the quaternary organization of monocot mannose binding lectins could be governed. The mutation experiment performed on maltose-binding protein-gastrodianin fusion protein followed by a few biochemical detections provides direct evidence to support this conclusion. Potential carbohydrate recognition sites and biological implications of the orchid lectin based on its monomeric state are also discussed in this paper.     

New structural insights into the molecular deciphering of mycobacterial lipoglycan binding to C-type lectins: lipoarabinomannan glycoform characterization and quantification by capillary electrophoresis at the subnanomole level

Lipoarabinomannans are key molecules of the mycobacterial envelopes involved in many steps of tuberculosis immunopathogenesis. Several of the biological activities of lipoarabinomannans are mediated by their ability to bind human C-type lectins, such as the macrophage mannose receptor, the mannose-binding protein and the surfactant proteins A and D. The lipoarabinomannan mannooligosaccharide caps have been demonstrated to be involved in the binding to the lectin carbohydrate recognition domains. We report an original analytical approach, based on capillary electrophoresis monitored by laser-induced fluorescence, allowing the absolute quantification, in nanomole quantities of lipoarabinomannan, of the number of mannooligosaccharide units per lipoarabinomannan molecule. Moreover, this analytical approach was successful for the glycosidic linkage determination of the mannooligosaccharide motifs and has been applied to the comparative analysis of parietal and cellular lipoarabinomannans of Mycobacterium bovis BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, H37Ra and Erdman strains. Significant differences were observed in the amounts of the various mannooligosaccharide units between lipoarabinomannans of different strains and between parietal and cellular lipoarabinomannans of the same strain. Nevertheless, no relationship was found between the number of mannooligosaccharide caps and the virulence of the corresponding strain. The results of the present study should help us to gain more understanding of the molecular basis of lipoarabinomannan discrimination in the process of binding to C-type lectins.     

Binding and cross-linking properties of galectins

The galectins are a family of animal lectins that possess similar carbohydrate binding specificities and conserved consensus sequences. The biological properties of mammalian galectins include the regulation of inflammation, cell adhesion, cell proliferation and cell death. Evidence suggests that the biological activities of the galectins are related to their multivalent binding properties since most galectins possess two carbohydrate recognition domains and are therefore bivalent. For example, galectin-1, which is dimeric, binds and cross-links specific glycoprotein counter-receptors on the surface of human T-cells leading to apoptosis [J. Immunol. 163 (1999) 3801]. Different galectin-1 counter-receptors associated with specific phosphatase or kinase activities formed separate clusters on the surface of the cells as a result of the lectin binding to the carbohydrate chains of the respective glycoproteins. Importantly, monovalent galectin-1 is inactive in this system. This indicates that the separation and organization of signaling molecules that result from galectin-1 binding is involved in the apoptotic signal. The separation of specific glycoprotein receptors induced by galectin-1 binding was modeled on the basis of molecular and structural studies of the binding of lectins to multivalent carbohydrates resulting in the formation of specific two- and three-dimensional cross-linked lattices [Biochemistry 36 (1997) 15073]. In this article, the binding and cross-linking properties of galectin-1 and other lectins are reviewed as a model for the biological signal transduction properties of the galectin family of animal lectins.     

Molecular basis of non-self recognition by the horseshoe crab tachylectins

The self/non-self discrimination by innate immunity through simple ligands universally expressed both on pathogens and hosts, such as monosaccharides and acetyl group, depends on the density or clustering patterns of the ligands. The specific recognition by the horseshoe crab tachylectins with a propeller-like fold or a propeller-like oligomeric arrangement is reinforced by the short distance between the individual binding sites that interact with pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). There is virtually no conformational change in the main or side chains of tachylectins upon binding with the ligands. This low structural flexibility of the propeller structures must be very important for specific interaction with PAMPs. Mammalian lectins, such as mannose-binding lectin and ficolins, trigger complement activation through the lectin pathway in the form of opsonins. However, tachylectins have no effector collagenous domains and no lectin-associated serine proteases found in the mammalian lectins. Furthermore, no complement-like proteins have been found in horseshoe crabs, except for alpha(2)-macroglobulin. The mystery of the molecular mechanism of the scavenging pathway of pathogens in horseshoe crabs remains to be solved.