0 a type of protein mainly found in plants that binds (= chemically joins) to carbohydrates (= substances such as sugar):
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that a protein called lectin found in edible mushrooms can target cancer cells and stop them multiplying.
We did a study to assess whether intact peanut lectin enters the blood after eating peanuts.
The lectin may bind to several glycoproteins on the cell surface.
Proteins called lectins in certain dried pulses, like kidney beans, cause a reaction unless well cooked.
Lectins (carbohydrate-binding proteins), are known to play a role in defence responses against a range of bacteria, fungi, and viruses in plants.
Interactions between carbohydrates in parasites and lectins in fish can be speculated to be both positive and negative.
Cells are visualized with lectin histochemistry in paraffin sections.
The measurement was performed using three ova for each lectin.