Purification and Characterization of a Rhamnose-Binding Chinook Salmon Roe Lectin with Antiproliferative Activity toward Tumor Cells and Nitric Oxide-Inducing Activity toward Murine Macrophages

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2011-05, Vol.59 (10), p.5720-5728
• Main Authors: Bah, Clara Shui Fern, Fang, Evandro Fei, Ng, Tzi Bun, Mros, Sonya, McConnell, Michelle, Bekhit, Alaa El-Din Ahmed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; antifungal properties; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; breast neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; cattle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; erythrocytes; Female; Fish and seafood industries; Food Chemistry/Biochemistry; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; fungi; Hemagglutination; hepatoma; Humans; lectins; Lectins - isolation & purification; Lectins - metabolism; Lectins - pharmacology; macrophages; Macrophages, Peritoneal - drug effects; Macrophages, Peritoneal - metabolism; metal ions; Mice; molecular weight; nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis; Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; Ovum - chemistry; rabbits; Rhamnose - metabolism; Salmon; splenocytes
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf2004578

In this study, a rhamnose-binding lectin from the roe of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) was purified and characterized, and its biological activities were examined in several model systems. Chinook salmon roe lectin had a molecular mass of 30 kDa and agglutinated rabbit and bovine erythrocytes. The hemagglutination activity of the lectin was not affected by metal ions. The lectin was stable up to 70 °C and between pH 4 and pH 11. Chinook salmon roe lectin did not exert antifungal activity toward the fungal species tested and did not exhibit mitogenic response toward mouse splenocytes up to a concentration of 5 mg/mL. The lectin had selective antiproliferative activity toward human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and hepatoma Hep G2 cells. It also induced the production of nitric oxide from mouse peritoneal macrophages. This is the first report that demonstrates these biological activities from chinook salmon roe lectin.