title: Toxicity and binding profile of lectins from the Genus canavalia on brine shrimp.
abstract: Lectins are sugar-binding proteins widely distributed in nature with many biological functions. Although many lectins have a remarkable biotechnological potential, some of them can be cytotoxic. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the toxicity of five lectins, purified from seeds of different species of Canavalia genus. In order to determine the toxicity, assays with Artemia nauplii were performed. In addition, a fluorescence assay was carried out to evaluate the binding of lectins to Artemia nauplii. In order to verify the relationship between the structure of lectins and their cytotoxic effect, structural analysis was carried out to evaluate the volume of the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) of each lectin. The results showed that all lectins exhibited different toxicities and bound to a similar area in the digestive tract of Artemia nauplii. Concerning the structural analysis, differences in spatial arrangement and volume of CRD may explain the variation of the toxicity exhibited by each lectin. To this date, this is the first study that establishes a link between toxicity and structure of CRD from Diocleinae lectins.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Laboratory of Biomolecules (LIBS-BioMol Group), Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, 62042-280 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco Vassiliepe Sousa
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biologically Actives Molecules, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, 60440-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arthur Alves
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biologically Actives Molecules, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, 60440-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mayron Alves
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biologically Actives Molecules, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, 60440-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Romulo Farias
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biologically Actives Molecules, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, 60440-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ito Liberato
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Barroso-Neto
authors.affiliation: Marine Biochemistry Laboratory, Fishing Engineering Department, Federal University of Ceará, 60440-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suzete Roberta
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biologically Actives Molecules, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, 60440-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco Nascimento
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Pereira-Junior
authors.affiliation: Marine Biochemistry Laboratory, Fishing Engineering Department, Federal University of Ceará, 60440-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Celso Shiniti
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Nagano
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biologically Actives Molecules, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, 60440-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kyria Santiago
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Integrated Laboratory of Biomolecules (LIBS-BioMol Group), Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, 62042-280 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edson Holanda
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Marine Biochemistry Laboratory, Fishing Engineering Department, Federal University of Ceará, 60440-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saker-Sampaio
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biologically Actives Molecules, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, 60440-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Benildo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sousa Cavada
authors.affiliation: Marine Biochemistry Laboratory, Fishing Engineering Department, Federal University of Ceará, 60440-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Holanda
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sampaio
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D032449:Canavalia / Q000633:toxicity; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D037102:Lectins