DR. D'ADAMO: LECSTER 7

The lectin database of Dr. Peter D'Adamo.
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Momordica charantia
SPECIES IMAGE
SOURCE	Chinese bitter melon
LECTINS	MCL
MOLECULAR IMAGE
CLASS
NOMEN	LECp.Mom.Cha.xx.Xga1
INDEX	Plant lectin / / / / Gal/GalNAc-binding lectins
CHARACTERIZATION	MCL demonstrated antilipolytic and lipogenic activities in isolated rat adipocytes although it did not possess intrinsic lipolytic activity. The antilipolytic activity was susceptible to destruction by heat, trypsin, chymotrypsin, glutathione and galactose, indicating that the integrity of the protein moiety, the disulfide linkages, and galactose, which is the sugar specifically bound by the lectin, all play an important role in interaction with the adipocyte leading to an expression of this insulin-like activity. Trichosanthin is a ribosome inactiviating protein, like ricin.
BIOACTIVITY	agglutinates group A erythrocytes at a titer of 1:256; group B erythrocytes at a titer of 1:512; group B erythrocytes at a titer of 1:512; by crude lectin preparation (16mg/ml). See: Int J Cancer 1970;6:283 2 different lectins have been purified from the seeds of Momordica charantia by gel-filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. These 2 lectins appear to be composed of 2 subunits of 26,000 daltons. Protein fraction I, but not II, showed agglutinating activity toward human type-O red blood cells. See: Experientia 1980 May 15;36(5):524-7
SOURCE TISSUE
SPECIFICITY	galactose
INHIBITORS
REFERENCES	Int J Pept Protein Res 1986 Aug;28(2):163-72 Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1998 Dec 9;253(1):143-6.