A galactose-binding lectin isolated from Aplysia kurodai (sea hare) eggs inhibits streptolysin-induced hemolysis.

Abstract

A specific galactose-binding lectin was shown to inhibit the hemolytic effect of streptolysin O (SLO), an exotoxin produced by Streptococcus pyogenes. Commercially available lectins that recognize N-acetyllactosamine (ECA), T-antigen (PNA), and Tn-antigen (ABA) agglutinated rabbit erythrocytes, but had no effect on SLO-induced hemolysis. In contrast, SLO-induced hemolysis was inhibited by AKL, a lectin purified from sea hare (Aplysia kurodai) eggs that recognizes α-galactoside oligosaccharides. This inhibitory effect was blocked by the co-presence of d-galactose, which binds to AKL. A possible explanation for these findings is that cholesterol-enriched microdomains containing glycosphingolipids in the erythrocyte membrane become occupied by tightly stacked lectin molecules, blocking the interaction between cholesterol and SLO that would otherwise result in penetration of the membrane. Growth of S. pyogenes was inhibited by lectins from a marine invertebrate (AKL) and a mushroom (ABA), but was promoted by a plant lectin (ECA). Both these inhibitory and promoting effects were blocked by co-presence of galactose in the culture medium. Our findings demonstrate the importance of glycans and lectins in regulating mechanisms of toxicity, creation of pores in the target cell membrane, and bacterial growth.

• Authors: Imtiaj Hasan, Miharu Watanabe, Naoto Ishizaki, Yoshiko Sugita-Konishi, Yasushi Kawakami, Jun Suzuki, Chikaku Dogasaki, Sultana Rajia, Sarkar M A Kawsar, Yasuhiro Koide, Robert A Kanaly, Shigeki Sugawara, Masahiro Hosono, Yukiko Ogawa, Yuki Fujii, Hideyuki Iriko, Jiharu Hamako, Taei Matsui, Yasuhiro Ozeki
• Journal: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (Molecules) Vol. 19 Issue 9 Pg. 13990-4003 (Sep 05 2014) ISSN: 1420-3049 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 25197935 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Bacterial Proteins
• Galectins
• Hemolytic Agents
• Streptolysins
• streptolysin O

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Aplysia (chemistry)
• Bacterial Proteins (pharmacology)
• Erythrocytes (drug effects, physiology)
• Galectins (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Hemolysis (drug effects)
• Hemolytic Agents (pharmacology)
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests
• Ovum (chemistry)
• Rabbits
• Streptococcus pyogenes (drug effects)
• Streptolysins (pharmacology)