Lectina de Phaseolus vulgaris (frijol rojo)

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins, which contains four subunits with a molecular weight of 125 kDa. Leucoagglutinin PHA-L is a plant lectin, which is transported by the neurons in the central nervous system.

Lectin from Phaseolus vulgaris (red kidney bean) has been used:

• it has been used as a positive control to treat cells
• to stimulate cell culture for the analysis of lymphocyte proliferation
• to stimulate T cells

Lectin agglutinates cells and precipitates polysaccharides and glycoproteins. It is associated with toxic allergens and hemagglutinins. Lectin exhibits anti-cancer, anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) and anti-microbial infection properties. Lectin inhibits mucosal atrophy, lowers type 2 diabetes and obesity, enhances nutrient absorption and regulates drug targeting.

La PHA consta de dos especies moleculares, la eritroaglutinina (PHA-E), que tiene poca actividad mitógena y elevada actividad de eritroaglutinina, y la leoucoaglutinina (PHA-L), que tiene elevada actividad mitógena y leoucoaglutinante, pero muy baja actividad eritroaglutininante
La PHA-E no es específica de grupo sanguíneo, pero la aglutinación puede ser inhibida por ciertos oligosacáridos. La PHA-P es la forma proteica de la PHA antes de la separación y la purificación de la eritroaglutinina y la leoucoaglutinina. La PHA-M es la forma mucoproteínica. Los conjugados se preparan a partir de las correspondientes lectinas purificadas.

Agglutination activity is expressed in μg/ml and is determined from serial dilutions of a 1 mg/ml solution. This activity is the lowest concentration to agglutinate a suspension of either human erythrocytes (2% in phosphate buffered saline, pH 6.8) or human leukocytes (10⁷ per mL in saline) after 1 hr incubation at 25 °C.