Abstract

BIOLOGICAL EVIDENTIAL PANORAMA OF LECTINS: THEIR ISOLATION, PURIFICATION AND APPLICATIONS

Ravi Prakash Mishra, Aijaz Ahmad Ganaie* and Aashaq Hussain Allaie

Abstract

Lectins are proteins of non-immunoglobulin nature capable of specific recognition and reversible binding to carbohydrate moieties of complex carbohydrates. This review aims to highlight the potential of lectins in various fields of biology. Lectins are isolated from their natural sources by chromatographic procedures with various modulations to increase their production. They are ubiquitous in occurrence, being found in all types of living organisms as well as viruses. Lectins manifest a diversity of activities including anti-insect activities, antitumor, antimicrobial, anti nematode and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory, which may find applications in many therapeutic areas.

Keywords: Lectins, Glycoprotiens, HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.