Biochemical characterization and application of a novel lectin from the cyanobacterium Lyngabya confervoides MK012409 as an antiviral and anticancer agent

In the present study, a novel lectin was purified from the newly isolated cyanobacterium, Lyngabya confervoides MK012409 and tested for its antiviral and anticancer activity. Out of 30 isolates, Mabroka-s isolate which identified as Lyngabya confervoides MK012409 showed the highest agglutination titer. Lyngabyal lectin showed the greatest haemagglutination activity with pigeon/rabbit erythrocytes with a minimum concentration of 2.4 mu g/ml. Physical characterization of Lyngabyal lectin showed ability to keep the activity at a higher temperature up to 80 degrees C with stability over a wide pH range (4-8) as well as its stability toward chemical denaturants. Carbohydrate specificity test revealed that the sugar alcohols completely inhibited the lectin haemagglutination activity. The electrophoretic analysis revealed that the lyngabyal lectin is a 140 kDa composed of two 70 kDa subunits. Lyngabyal lectin was able to inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 and Caco-2 cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 246 +/- 0.17 and 376.4 +/- 0.34 mu g/ml, respectively. Lyngabyal lectin also showed virucidal activity against HSV-1 with EC50 of 167 +/- 0.52 ng/ml and inhibited plaque formation in the HSV-1 infected Vero cells with EC50 of 84.94 +/- 0.34 ng/ml. These findings emphasize the ability of the lyngabyal lectin to fight breast and colon cancer besides it represents a promising antiviral agent. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.