LECTINS FROM MUSHROOMS

This review summarizes existing information about mushroom lectins, wi th an emphasis on those from the following species which have been mos t extensively characterized including various Agaricus species, Amanit a pantherina, Boletus satanas, Coprinus cinereus, Ganoderma lucidum, F lammulina velutipes, Grifola frondosa, Hericium erinaceum, Ischnoderma resinosum, Lactarius deterrimus, Laetiporus sulphureus, Tricholoma mo ngolicum and Volvariella volvacea. It is noted that the mushroom lecti ns exhibit a diversity of chemical characteristics. Some of them are m onomeric, whereas others are dimeric, trimeric or tetrameric. Their mo lecular 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 spe cific for fucose, raffinose, N-glycolyneuraminic acid and N-acetyl-D-l actosamine. Studies on immunomodulatory and antitumour/cytotoxic activ ities have been carried out on lectins from Agaricus bisporus, Boletus satanas, Flammulina velutipes, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, T richoloma mongolicum and Volvariella volvacea.