Abstract
Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins with several bioactivities, including antimicrobial properties. Portulaca elatior is a species found at Brazilian Caatinga and data on the biochemical composition of this plant are scarce. The present work describes the purification of P. elatior leaf lectin (PeLL) as well as the assessment of its antimicrobial activity and toxicity. PeLL, isolated by chromatography on a chitin column, had native liquid charge and subunit composition evaluated by electrophoresis. Hemagglutinating activity (HA) of PeLL was determined in the presence of carbohydrates or divalent cations, as well as after heating and incubation at different pH values. Changes in the lectin conformation were monitored by evaluating intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence and using the extrinsic probe bis-ANS. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Pectobacterium strains and Candida species. The minimal inhibitory (MIC), bactericidal (MBC), and fungicidal (MFC) concentrations were determined. Finally, PeLL was evaluated for in vitro hemolytic activity in human erythrocytes and in vivo acute toxicity in mice (5 and 10 mg/kg b.w. per os). PeLL (pI 5.4; 20 kDa) had its HA was inhibited by mannose, galactose, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+. PeLL HA was resistant to heating at 100 °C, although conformational changes were detected. PeLL was more active in the acidic pH range, in which no conformational changes were observed. The lectin presented MIC and MBC of 0.185 and 0.74 μg/mL for all Pectobacterium strains, respectively; MIC of 1.48 μg/mL for C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei; MIC and MFC of 0.74 and 2.96 μg/mL for C. parapsilosis. No hemolytic activity or signs of acute toxicity were observed in the mice. In conclusion, a new, low-toxic, and thermostable lectin was isolated from P. elatior leaves, being the first plant compound to show antibacterial activity against Pectobacterium.
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Funding
The authors express their gratitude to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for financial support (407192/2018–2) and investigator research grants (PMGP and THN). We are also grateful to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES; Finance Code 001) and the Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE: APQ 0108–2.08/14) for financial support. SPS would like to thank CAPES for graduate scholarship.
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da Silva, S.P., da Silva, J.D.F., da Costa, C.B.L. et al. Purification, Characterization, and Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity and Toxicity of Portulaca elatior Leaf Lectin (PeLL). Probiotics & Antimicro. Prot. 15, 287–299 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-021-09837-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-021-09837-w