Lectins glycolipids

Figure 22.15 Glycolipid components included in liposome construction may be used to couple antibody molecules by using conjugates of lectins with the proper specificity for binding the sugar groups.

Su et al. 2005). Mannosyl lipid containing liposomes have also been used for this purpose (Zhang et al. 2005). The glycolipids are presumed to interact with lectins present on the surface of the bacterial cells. 

Lectins, or proteins with specific binding sites for carbohydrates, can be used as targeting molecules to localize particular glycoconjugates such as glycoproteins or glycolipids on cell surfaces (Fig. 373). Labeled with gold particles, lectins are important probes for detection of cell surface components and intracellular receptors and in immunological or biochemical assay procedures (Bog-Hansen et al., 1978 Kimura et al., 1979 Nicolson, 1978 Roth, 1983 Benhamou et al., 1988 Nakajima et al., 1988). 

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