title: Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Tools for the Detection and Identification of Lectins in Major Human Diseases.
abstract: Lectins are the (glyco)proteins that recognize and bind to specific sugar moieties without altering their structure. Galectins are mammalian lectins characterized by the presence of conserved 134 amino acids carbohydrate recognition domain and specificity for β-galactosides. The involvement of lectins in diverse biological spectrum, especially some deadly human diseases like cancer, neurological disorders and cardiovascular disorders has proclaimed them as one of the important components of glycobiology, thereby seeking the methods of their detection and identification heavily desirable. In the present manuscript, we have provided a comprehensive outline of various methods of detection and identification of lectins employed till date, with their needs and usage varying according to the level of infrastructure of laboratories and around the world. In addition, a vision for some quick, highly sensitive and advanced methods for lectin detection and identification for diagnostic and therapeutic of various diseases is also provided.
authors.affiliation: King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, P. O. Box 80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. gashraf@kau.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Ghulam Md
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perveen
authors.forename: Syed K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Zaidi
authors.forename: Shams
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tabrez
authors.forename: Shazi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shakil
authors.forename: Ausaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Rizwanul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.forename: Jawaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahsan
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.forename: Naheed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Banu
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D037161:Galectins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D037161:Galectins