Production of Aralin, a Selective Cytotoxic Lectin against Human Transformed Cells, in Callus Culture of Aralia elata

Makoto Tomatsu; Toshiyuki Mujin; Norio Shibamoto; Fumio Tashiro; Akira Ikuta

doi:10.1055/s-2004-818979

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

Planta Med 2004; 70(5): 469-471
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-818979

Letter

Production of Aralin, a Selective Cytotoxic Lectin against Human Transformed Cells, in Callus Culture of Aralia elata

Makoto Tomatsu¹ , Toshiyuki Mujin² , Norio Shibamoto¹ , Fumio Tashiro² , Akira Ikuta³

¹Akita Research Institute of Food and Brewing (ARIF), Arayamachi, Akita, Japan
²Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba, Japan
³Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba, Japan

Abstract

Recently we found that aralin, a novel lectin, from Aralia elata selectively induces apoptosis in human virus-transformed and cancer cells compared with normal cells. To overcome the reduction of aralin biosynthesis according to the development of leaves, we established callus tissues from the young shoots. The N-terminal amino acid sequence and immunochemical analyses revealed that ca-aralin, an aralin synthesized in the callus, was structurally identical with aralin except for the glycosylation of the B chain. The selective cytotoxic index (ratio of IC₅₀ value against human lung normal cells versus virus-transformed cells) of ca-aralin was 2-fold higher than that of aralin. Thus, these results suggest that ca-aralin is more useful than aralin as an anticancer agent.

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References

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Makoto Tomatsu

Akita Research Institute of Food and Brewing (ARIF)

4-26 Sanuki

Arayamachi

Akita 010-1623

Japan

Fax: +81-18-888-2008

Email: tomatsu@arif.pref.akita.jp