Porifera Lectins: Diversity, Physiological Roles and Biotechnological Potential
Johan Gardères,
Marie-Lise Bourguet-Kondracki,
Bojan Hamer,
Renato Batel,
Heinz C. Schröder,
Werner E. G. Müller
Affiliations
Johan Gardères
Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes, UMR 7245 CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP 54, 57 rue Cuvier, Paris 75005, France
Marie-Lise Bourguet-Kondracki
Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes, UMR 7245 CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP 54, 57 rue Cuvier, Paris 75005, France
Bojan Hamer
Laboratory for Marine Molecular Biology, Center for Marine Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, G. Paliaga 5, 52210 Rovinj, Croatia
Renato Batel
Laboratory for Marine Molecular Biology, Center for Marine Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, G. Paliaga 5, 52210 Rovinj, Croatia
Heinz C. Schröder
ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, Mainz D-55128, Germany
Werner E. G. Müller
ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, Mainz D-55128, Germany
An overview on the diversity of 39 lectins from the phylum Porifera is presented, including 38 lectins, which were identified from the class of demosponges, and one lectin from the class of hexactinellida. Their purification from crude extracts was mainly performed by using affinity chromatography and gel filtration techniques. Other protocols were also developed in order to collect and study sponge lectins, including screening of sponge genomes and expression in heterologous bacterial systems. The characterization of the lectins was performed by Edman degradation or mass spectrometry. Regarding their physiological roles, sponge lectins showed to be involved in morphogenesis and cell interaction, biomineralization and spiculogenesis, as well as host defense mechanisms and potentially in the association between the sponge and its microorganisms. In addition, these lectins exhibited a broad range of bioactivities, including modulation of inflammatory response, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, as well as anticancer and neuromodulatory activity. In view of their potential pharmacological applications, sponge lectins constitute promising molecules of biotechnological interest.
