Lectins: Second edition

Abstract

Since publication of the First Edition in 1989, great strides have been made in lectin research. Numerous lectins have been isolated from a variety of sources. Their functions in infection, inflammation and immunity, both innate and acquired, have been clarified. In addition, the three-dimensional structures of nearly 200 lectins and many of their complexes with carbohydrates have been elucidated, providing new insight into the molecular basis of their specificity. This Second Edition brings readers thoroughly up to date with all these findings. Throughout this new edition, more than 200 figures and some thirty tables help readers visualize and understand key concepts and processes. The book starts with an overview of lectin research followed by a survey of the occurrence of lectins in nature. Readers get a detailed description of their properties, with an emphasis on specificity, structure, and interaction with ligands at the atomic level. Next, the biosynthesis and genetics of lectins and their numerous applications in biology and medicine are discussed. The authors then provide a summary of the nutritional effects of lectins. Lastly their functions in nature a.