Lectins from mushrooms

This review summarizes existing information about mushroom lectins, with an emphasis on those from the following species which have been most extensively characterized including various Agaricus species, Amanita pantherina, Boletus satanas, Coprinus cinereus, Ganoderma lucidum, Flammulina velutipes, Grifola frondosa, Hericium erinaceum, Ischnoderma resinosum, Lactarius deterrimus, Laetiporus sulphureus, Tricholoma mongolicum and Volvariella volvacea. It is noted that the mushroom lectins exhibit a diversity of chemical characteristics. Some of them are monomeric, whereas others are dimeric, trimeric or tetrameric. Their molecular weights range from IZ to 190 kDa, and the sugar contents from 0 to 18%. Carbohydrate specificities involve mainly galactose, lactose and N-acetylgalactosamine. A small number of mushroom lectins are specific for fucose, raffinose, N-glycolyneuraminic acid and N-acetyl-D-lactosamine. Studies on immunomodulatory and antitumour/cytotoxic activities have been carried out on lectins from Agaricus bisporus, Boletus satanas, Flammulina velutipes, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Tricholoma mongolicum and Volvariella volvacea.