The Galactose-Specific Lectin from the Sponge Chondrilla Nucula Displays Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Activity in vitro via Stimulation of the (2′-5′)Oligoadenylate Metabolism

A new lectin has been isolated from the sponge Chondrilla nucula. The purified CN lectin is a protein composed of four polypeptide chains with a molecular weight (MW) of 15600. The isoelectric point is 4.5 and the amino acid composition is rich in aspartic and glutamic acid. The lectin precipitates erythrocytes from humans (A, B, O) with a titre between 25 and 210. The CN lectin is d-galactose-specific and displays a moderate mitogenic effect on spleen lymphocytes from mice and on CD4-positive human H9 cells. An interesting feature of this lectin is its ability to stimulate the (2′-5′)oligoriboadenylate [(2′-5′)A] metabolic pathway in non-infected and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)-i…