Biochemical Studies

Carbohydrate-Binding Proteins of Marine Invertebrates

P. A. Luk’yanov^1# O. V. Chernikov¹, S. S. Kobelev¹, I. V. Chikalovets¹, V. I. Molchanova¹ and W. Li²

^#Phone: (4232) 31-07-19; fax: (4232) 31-40-50; e-mail: paluk@mail.ru

¹Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far East Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Stoletiya Vladivostoka 159, Vladivostok, 690022, Russia;
²Dalian Fisheries University, Dalian, China

Received: April 7, 2006; in final form: July 3, 2006

Abstract. The information on the carbohydrate specificity and molecular organization of some carbohydrate-binding proteins (lectins) of marine invertebrates is reported. Antiviral activity of some of the lectins against human immunodeficiency virus has been studied. Lectins of marine invertebrates are promising tools for studying natural glycoconjugates and cell effectors in vitro.

Key words: antiviral activity, HIV, lectins, marine invertebrates

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry 2007, 33 (1): 161-169