Concanavalin A, from an old protein to novel candidate anti-neoplastic drug.
Plant lectins, carbohydrate-binding proteins distributed widely in a variety of plant species, have been well-known to possess a broad range of significant biological functions such as anti-tumor, anti-fungal and anti-viral activities. Amongst the seven major lectin families, legume lectins have been drawing a rising attention for cancer biologists due to their remarkable anti-tumor properties compared to other lectin families. In this review, we mainly focus on analyzing the anti-tumor activities of Concanavalin A (ConA), the first and most typical representative of legume lectin family, and its related mechanisms of cell death implicated in apoptosis and autophagy. We present the up-to-date experimental advancements that ConA is able to induce cancer cell apoptosis through mitochondria-dependent and p73-mediated pathways, as well as ConA can induce cancer cell autophagy through a mitochondria-dependent signaling pathway. In addition, we further discuss the pre-clinical studies of ConA for its potential cancer therapeutic applications. In conclusion, these findings may shed light on the complicated molecular mechanisms of ConA-induced cancer cell death, thereby opening a new perspective for plant lectins as potential anti-neoplastic drugs in future cancer therapeutics.
School of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
Chun-Yang
CY
Li
Huai-Long
HL
Xu
Bo
B
Liu
Jin-Ku
JK
Bao
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis; D001343:Autophagy; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C000606460:TP73 protein, human; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D003208:Concanavalin A