Clusters, bundles, arrays and lattices: novel mechanisms for lectin-saccharide-mediated cellular interactions.
Multivalent protein-carbohydrate interactions regulate essential cellular events, including cell proliferation, adhesion and death. These multivalent interactions can create homogeneous complexes of lectins, such as the galectins, with their saccharide ligands. Lectin-saccharide complexes can concentrate specific glycoproteins or glycolipids within the lattice, while excluding other cell surface molecules. The formation of lectin-saccharide lattices on the cell surface can thus organize the plasma membrane into specialized domains that perform unique functions.
Brewer
C Fred
CF
Departments of Molecular Pharmacology, Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
Miceli
M Carrie
MC
Baum
Linda G
LG
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D037161:Galectins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000502:physiology*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D037161:Galectins; D037102:Lectins; D009844:Oligosaccharides