Lectins

Lectins are proteins or lipopolysaccharides of plant or bacterial origin that associate with membrane receptors.
 * mitogenic lectins: stimulate mitoses,
 * use of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) to stimulate mitosis of lymphocytes from peripheral blood (diagnostic purposes).


 * non-mitogenic lectins: other manifestations of functional activity of sensitive cells.
 * preventing sperm cells from entering the unfertilized egg (the egg behaves as if it has already been fertilized).

The transmission of stimuli from lectin-associated cellular receptors to the cytoplasm is explained by the activation of universal cellular mediators (cAMP, cGMP).

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 * Lectin pathway of complement activation