JACALIN Meaning and
Definition
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Jacalin is a protein compound found in the seeds of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), a tropical tree native to South Asia. It is classified as an antibody, specifically an immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody, and belongs to the jacalin family of lectins. Jacalin is derived from the term "Jackfruit lectin" and was initially isolated from jackfruit seeds.
The primary characteristic of jacalin is its ability to specifically bind to carbohydrates, specifically O-glycosidic-linked glycans, which are sugar molecules attached to proteins or lipids. Its binding affinity is particularly high for the carbohydrate structure galactose-β1,3-N-acetylgalactosamine (Galβ1,3GalNAc), also known as the Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (TF antigen). Due to this specificity, jacalin is widely utilized as a tool in scientific research for the detection and isolation of glycans containing the TF antigen.
Jacalin also exhibits potential biomedical applications. It has shown promise as an anti-tumor agent due to its ability to selectively bind to cancer cells that overexpress the TF antigen. Additionally, jacalin possesses antimicrobial properties, inhibiting the growth of certain bacteria and fungi. Furthermore, it may play a role in the modulation of the immune response, as it can interact with the immune system and trigger specific immune reactions.
Overall, jacalin is a lectin derived from jackfruit seeds that specifically binds to carbohydrate structures, making it valuable for glycobiology research and potentially applicable in medical fields such as cancer treatment and antimicrobial therapy.
Common Misspellings for JACALIN
- hacalin
- nacalin
- kacalin
- iacalin
- uacalin
- jzcalin
- jscalin
- jwcalin
- jqcalin
- jaxalin
- jafalin
- jadalin
- jaczlin
- jacslin
- jacwlin
- jacakin
- jacapin
- jacaoin
- jacaljn
- jacalkn
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