Handbook of Plant Lectins: Properties and Biomedical Applications / Edition 1

by Els. J. M. Van Damme, Willy J. Peumans, Arpad Pusztai, Susan Bardocz

Overview

Plant lectins are extensively used as tools and as bioactiveproteins in different areas of biomedical and biological research.The Handbook of Plant Lectins provides a comprehensive yet conciseoverview of the biochemical properties, carbohydrate-bindingspecificity, biological activities and applications of most of thecurrently known plant lectins. This handbook consists of two majorsections: an introductory guide and a quick reference dictionary.Part I acquaints the newcomer to the lectin field with theessential information on lectins and their importance tobiomedicine:
* what are lectins?
* their carbohydrate-binding specificity
* effects on nutrition and immunology
* use in histochemistry
* application as therapeutic agents
Part II lists approximately 200 lectin entries in alphabeticalorder. Each entry deals with the lectin(s) of a particular plantand 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 theirapplication. A list of suppliers is also provided. Handbook ofPlant Lectins will be of interest to biologists and biomedicalresearchers studying cell biology, cancer research, nutrition,immunology, pathology and physiology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780471964452
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	03/06/1998
Pages:	466
Product dimensions:	6.87(w) x 9.78(h) x 1.28(d)

About the Author

Els. J. M. Van Damme is the author of Handbook of Plant Lectins: Properties and Biomedical Applications, published by Wiley.

Willy J. Peumans is the author of Handbook of Plant Lectins: Properties and Biomedical Applications, published by Wiley.

Arpad Pusztai is the author of Handbook of Plant Lectins: Properties and Biomedical Applications, published by Wiley.

Susan Bardocz is the author of Handbook of Plant Lectins: Properties and Biomedical Applications, published by Wiley.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION TO LECTINS.

Plant Lectins: A Special Class of Plant Proteins.

Plant Lectins in Mammalian Nutrition, Immunology, Metabolism and asOral 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.

Editorial Reviews

Introduces medical and biological researchers to the class of plant proteins and examines their carbohydrate binding specificity, effects on nutrition and immunology, use in histochemistry, and application as therapeutic agents. Then provides a quick reference to the lectins in approximately 200 species of plant, with what information is known about isolation and characterization, sugar binding specificity, biological activities, applications, commercial availability, and sources for further information. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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