title: Basidiomycete Clitocybe nebularis is rich in lectins with insecticidal activities.
abstract: Basidiomycete mushrooms are a rich source of unique substances, including lectins, that could potentially be useful in biotechnology or biomedical applications. Lectins are a group of carbohydrate-binding proteins with diverse biological activities and functions. Here, we demonstrate the presence of a number of lectins in the basidiomycete mushroom Clitocybe nebularis. Glucose-, galactose-, sucrose-, lactose-, and Sepharose-binding lectins were isolated from fruiting bodies using affinity chromatography on Sepharose-immobilized sugars or on Sepharose. The lectins were characterized biochemically and their binding specificities examined by agglutination and agglutination inhibition assays. In addition, insecticidal and anti-nutritional properties of the lectins were studied against a model organism, fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), and Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Of the several basidiomycete mushrooms screened, C. nebularis extract showed the most potent insecticidal activity. Sucrose-binding lectin showed the strongest activity against D. melanogaster, followed by lactose- and galactose-binding lectins. Feeding bioassays with Colorado potato beetle revealed that C. nebularis extract exhibited high anti-nutritional activity against the insect; and of those tested, only lactose-binding lectin, named CNL showed the effect. Mushroom C. nebularis is shown to be rich in a variety of lectins with versatile biological activities, including insecticidal and anti-nutritional effects. C. nebularis lectins could thus have potential for use as natural insecticides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. jure.pohleven@ijs.si
authors.forename: Jure
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pohleven
authors.forename: Jože
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brzin
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vrabec
authors.forename: Adrijana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cokl
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strukelj
authors.forename: Janko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kos
authors.forename: Jerica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sabotič
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D048690:Fruiting Bodies, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry; D007313:Insecta / Q000187:drug effects*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037102:Lectins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D037102:Lectins