Handbook of Plant Lectins: Properties and Biomedical Applications

Plant lectins are extensively used as tools and as bioactive proteins in different areas of biomedical and biological research. The Handbook of Plant Lectins provides a comprehensive yet concise overview of the biochemical properties, carbohydrate–binding specificity, biological activities and applications of most of the currently known plant lectins. This handbook consists of two major sections: an introductory guide and a quick reference dictionary. Part I acquaints the newcomer to the lectin field with the essential information on lectins and their importance to biomedicine:what are lectins?their carbohydrate–binding specificityeffects on nutrition and immunologyuse in histochemistryapplication as therapeutic agentsPart II lists approximately 200 lectin entries in alphabetical order. Each entry deals with the lectin(s) of a particular plant and provides, (where known), details of:isolation and characterisation;sugar binding specificity;biological activities;applications;commercial availability; and,a bibliography.Useful summary tables list lectins according to their specificity, thereby allowing the user to choose the best lectin for their application. A list of suppliers is also provided. Handbook of Plant Lectins will be of interest to biologists and biomedical researchers studying cell biology, cancer research, nutrition, immunology, pathology and physiology.

Spis treści:
INTRODUCTION TO LECTINS.
Plant Lectins: A Special Class of Plant Proteins.
Plant Lectins in Mammalian Nutrition, Immunology, Metabolism and as Oral Therapeutic and Immune Agents.
Lectin Histochemistry in Histology and Histopathology.
LECTIN CLASSIFICATION.
Key to the Use of the Lectin Entries.
Classification Codes.
Lectin Entries.
Appendices.
Index.

Okładka tylna:
Plant lectins are extensively used as tools and as bioactive proteins in different are as of biomedical and biological research. The Handbook of Plant Lectins provides a comprehensive yet concise overview of the biochemical properties, carbohydrate–binding specificity, biological activities and applications of most of the currently known plant lectins. This handbook consists of two major sections: an introductory guide and a quick reference dictionary. Part I acquaints the newcomer to the lectin field with the essential information on lectins and their importance to biomedicine:what are lectins?their carbohydrate–binding specificityeffects on nutrition and immunologyuse in histochemistryapplication as therapeutic agentsPart II lists approximately 200 lectin entries in alphabetical order. Each entry deals with the lectin(s) of a particular plant and provides, (where known), details of:isolation and characterisation;sugar binding specificity;biological activities;applications;commercial availability; and,a bibliography.Useful summary tables list lectins according to their specificity, thereby allowing the user to choose the best lectin for their application. A list of suppliers is also provided. Handbook of Plant Lectins will be of interest to biologists and biomedical researchers studying cell biology, cancer research, nutrition, immunology, pathology and physiology.