Abstract
Lectins are a group of specific proteins that preferentially bind to carbohydrates inside and outside cells. To date, an increasing number of animal lectins have been found and categorized into several families in terms of the significant primary structural homology, while the classification is not always straightforward. These lectins can exert immense biological functions mainly through their specific carbohydrate-protein interactions in a variety of situations. In cancer biology, aberrant glycosylation changes on many glycoproteins and glycolipids are often observed and numerous experimental evidences have revealed that these structural changes are related to tumor malignancy. Galectins, which are broadly expressed animal lectins, can play crucial biological roles in tumor cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions through their binding activities to the tumor cell surface carbohydrate determinants. Certain galectin family proteins have also shown to affect tumor cell survival, signal transduction, and proliferation mainly inside the cell. Selectins, which are one of the C-type lectins and expressed leukocytes and/or vascular endothelium, can also play an immense role in tumor cell adhesion and invasion. In addition, certain annexin family proteins, which are originally known as phospholipid binding proteins, have been revealed to possess the carbohydrate binding activity, and these novel functions in tumors are being unveiled. Understanding how carbohydrate-protein interactions function in tumor cells will be one of the important goals in cancer research. This review focuses on the role of these lectins and their ligands in cancer progression and metastasis.
Keywords: Carbohydrate-binding proteins, lectin, galectin, selectin, annexin
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Biological Modulation by Lectins and Their Ligands in Tumor Progression and Metastasis
Volume: 8 Issue: 1
Author(s): Avraham Raz and Susumu Nakahara
Affiliation:
Keywords: Carbohydrate-binding proteins, lectin, galectin, selectin, annexin
Abstract: Lectins are a group of specific proteins that preferentially bind to carbohydrates inside and outside cells. To date, an increasing number of animal lectins have been found and categorized into several families in terms of the significant primary structural homology, while the classification is not always straightforward. These lectins can exert immense biological functions mainly through their specific carbohydrate-protein interactions in a variety of situations. In cancer biology, aberrant glycosylation changes on many glycoproteins and glycolipids are often observed and numerous experimental evidences have revealed that these structural changes are related to tumor malignancy. Galectins, which are broadly expressed animal lectins, can play crucial biological roles in tumor cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions through their binding activities to the tumor cell surface carbohydrate determinants. Certain galectin family proteins have also shown to affect tumor cell survival, signal transduction, and proliferation mainly inside the cell. Selectins, which are one of the C-type lectins and expressed leukocytes and/or vascular endothelium, can also play an immense role in tumor cell adhesion and invasion. In addition, certain annexin family proteins, which are originally known as phospholipid binding proteins, have been revealed to possess the carbohydrate binding activity, and these novel functions in tumors are being unveiled. Understanding how carbohydrate-protein interactions function in tumor cells will be one of the important goals in cancer research. This review focuses on the role of these lectins and their ligands in cancer progression and metastasis.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Raz Avraham and Nakahara Susumu, Biological Modulation by Lectins and Their Ligands in Tumor Progression and Metastasis, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2008; 8 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152008783330833
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152008783330833 |
Print ISSN 1871-5206 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5992 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Induction of cell death in cancer cells by modulating telomerase activity using small molecule drugs
Telomeres are distinctive but short stretches present at the corners of chromosomes and aid in stabilizing chromosomal makeup. Resynthesis of telomeres supported by the activity of reverse transcriptase ribonucleoprotein complex telomerase. There is no any telomerase activity in human somatic cells, but the stem cells and germ cells undergone telomerase ...read more
Role of natural compounds as anti anti-cancer agents
Cancer is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy remains an important approach in treatment o f several types of cancers, even though ...read more
Signaling and enzymatic modulators in cancer treatment
Cancer accounts for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022 and is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are the most important approach for the treatment of several ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Carbohydrates: Potential Sweet Tools Against Cancer
Current Medicinal Chemistry Trends in Bioinformatics and Chemoinformatics of Vitamin D Analogs and Their Protein Targets
Current Bioinformatics A Multi-targeted Natural Flavonoid Myricetin Suppresses Lamellipodia and Focal Adhesions Formation and Impedes Glioblastoma Cell Invasiveness and Abnormal Motility
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets The Extracapsular Lymph Node Extension Predicts Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer: A Short Review
Current Drug Targets Management of Inflammation by Natural Polyphenols: A Comprehensive Mechanistic Update
Current Medicinal Chemistry Ocular Toxicities in Cancer Therapy: Still Overlooked
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews The Role of the Antiangiogenetic Ramucirumab in the Treatment of Advanced Non Small Cell Lung Cancer
Current Medicinal Chemistry Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Development of Curcumin, its Combinations and Formulations and Curcumin-like Compounds as Anti-infective Agents
Current Medicinal Chemistry Recent Advances in the Development of Multi-Kinase Inhibitors
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Current Status Of Short Synthetic Peptides As Vaccines
Medicinal Chemistry EGFR and the Complexity of Receptor Crosstalk in the Cardiovascular System
Current Molecular Medicine Radiation Therapy in the Management of Lung Cancer
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Epigenetic and Disease Targets by Polyphenols
Current Pharmaceutical Design Current Phthalocyanines Delivery Systems in Photodynamic Therapy: An Updated Review
Current Medicinal Chemistry Anti-Apoptotic Mechanisms of Drug Resistance in Cancer
Current Cancer Drug Targets Retraction Notice: Current Management of Vomiting After Tonsillectomy in Children
Current Drug Safety Quantitative Structure-Wavelength Relationship Modeling of Porphin -Derivative Photosensitizers
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening MiR-125b Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Colon Cancer SW480 Cells <i>via</i> Targeting STAT3
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Evaluation of Plasma Free Amino Acid and Carnitine Levels in Patients with Cesarean Scar Pregnancy
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Annexin A5 Imaging: An Academic Research – Clinical Trials and Theses
Current Molecular Imaging (Discontinued)