Types of lectins and their therapeutic potential

Abstract

The survival of any cell or an organism depends on its immune system activity. This immune system activity depends on the organism’s interaction with the environment. Eventually any organism (from prokaryotic to eukaryotic) depends on a certain set of proteins present on the cell surface, as these cell surface proteins, named Lectins, primarily interact with cells of other organisms. There are various lectins known to occur in plants and animals (vertebrates and invertebrates). Moreover, every lectin is known to have specific binding with the surface glycoproteins of other cells. This eventually leads to a myriad of reactions leading to their therapeutic usage as antibacterial, antiviral & anticancerous agents in the medical field. The review focuses on the various lectins studied till date and their therapeutic potential.