What does lectin mean?

Definitions for lectin
ˈlɛk tɪnlectin

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word lectin.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. lectinnoun

    any of several plant glycoproteins that act like specific antibodies but are not antibodies in that they are not evoked by an antigenic stimulus

Wiktionary

  1. lectinnoun

    Any of a class of plant proteins that bind specific carbohydrates.

  2. Etymology: From lectus.

Wikipedia

  1. Lectin

    Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are highly specific for sugar groups that are part of other molecules, so cause agglutination of particular cells or precipitation of glycoconjugates and polysaccharides. Lectins have a role in recognition at the cellular and molecular level and play numerous roles in biological recognition phenomena involving cells, carbohydrates, and proteins. Lectins also mediate attachment and binding of bacteria, viruses, and fungi to their intended targets. Lectins are ubiquitous in nature and are found in many foods. Some foods, such as beans and grains, need to be cooked, fermented or sprouted to reduce lectin content. Some lectins are beneficial, such as CLEC11A, which promotes bone growth, while others may be powerful toxins such as ricin.Lectins may be disabled by specific mono- and oligosaccharides, which bind to ingested lectins from grains, legumes, nightshade plants, and dairy; binding can prevent their attachment to the carbohydrates within the cell membrane. The selectivity of lectins means that they are useful for analyzing blood type, and they have been researched for potential use in genetically engineered crops to transfer pest resistance.

ChatGPT

  1. lectin

    Lectin is a type of protein found in a wide range of plants and animals. They have the ability to bind to specific carbohydrate molecules on the surfaces of cells which allows them to perform various biological functions. However, certain types of lectins can be harmful if consumed in large amounts, particularly those found in raw legumes and whole grains.

Wikidata

  1. Lectin

    Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are highly specific for sugar moieties, particularly, the high specificity of plant lectins for foreign glycoconjugates. They play a role in the biological recognition phenomena involving cells and proteins. It is hypothesized that some hepatitis C viral glycoproteins attach to C-type lectins on the host cell surface for infection. Lectins may be disabled by specific mono- and oligosaccharides, which bind to ingested lectins from grains, legume, nightshade plants and dairy; binding can prevent their attachment to the carbohydrates within the cell membrane.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of lectin in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of lectin in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

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"lectin." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/lectin>.

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