Definition: Protein or glycoprotein substances of plant origin that bind to sugar moieties in cell walls or membranes. Some carbohydrate-metabolizing proteins (ENZYMES) from PLANTS also bind to carbohydrates, however they are not considered lectins. Many plant lectins change the physiology of the membrane of BLOOD CELLS to cause agglutination, mitosis, or other biochemical changes. They may play a role in plant defense mechanisms.
jacalin [ Artocarpus lectin jacalin,jackfruit lectin jacalin ] tetramer of 66 kDa composed of 4 subunits of 133 and a light chain of 20 residues; from seeds of Artocarpus integrifolia (Jackfruit); a D-galactose-binding lectin; induces production of gamma interfer
