Smallest lectin-like peptide identified from the skin secretion of an endemic frog, Hydrophylax bahuvistara.

Abstract

Lectins are sugar-binding proteins and considered as attractive candidates for drug delivery and targeting. Here, we report the identification of the smallest lectin-like peptide (odorranalectin HYba) from the skin secretion of Hydrophylax bahuvistara which is being the shortest lectin-like peptide identified so far from the frog skin secretion, with 15 amino acid residues. The peptide is the first report from an Indian frog and lacks antimicrobial activity but strongly agglutinate intact human erythrocytes. The sequences at the L-fucose recognizing region is conserved as in other lectins reported from frog skin secretion and could be exploited for specificity and drug targeting properties.