Bowman-Birk inhibitors in lentil: Heterologous expression, functional characterisation and anti-proliferative properties in human colon cancer cells

Bowman-Birk Inhibitors from Legumes: Utilisation in Disease Prevention and Therapy

“…In previous studies, a significant concentration-and time-dependent decrease in the growth of an array of colon cancer cells (HT29, Caco2, LoVo) has been demonstrated in vitro, following treatment with BBI variants from several legume sources, including pea, lentil and soybean; in contrast, the growth of non-malignant colonic fibroblastic CCD18-Co cells was unaffected by BBI [15,26,30]. Recently, the anti-proliferative effect of rTI1B, a major pea isoinhibitor expressed heterologously in Pichia pastoris, has been evaluated using colon cancer cells grown in vitro.…”

“…Additional residues adjacent to the reactive site peptide bond (P1-P1´) can have a significant effect on the affinity of BBI for particular protease targets [13]. BBI from legumes include potent inhibitors of both trypsin and chymotrypsin, with Ki values within the nanomolar range reported for different members, including soybean [26], pea [27,28], lentil [29,30] and lupin (Lupinus albus) BBI [31].…”

Molecular engineering of a small trypsin inhibitor based on the binding loop of horsegram seed Bowman-Birk inhibitor

“…Mung bean BBI has been shown to inhibit the NS3 protease integral to the virus life cycle that causes Dengue hemorrhagic fever 21 . An expressed lentil BBI exhibited antiproliferative properties in human colon cancer cells 22 . The anticarcinogenic activity of Vigna unguiculata BBI was ascribed to apoptosis and permeabilisation of the lysosome membrane 23 .…”

Bioactive Peptides from Legumes as Anticancer Therapeutic Agents

“…Four isoforms of BBI have previously been isolated from lentil seeds. Caccialupi, et al [46] reported that lentil BBI showed anti-proliferative properties in human colon cancer cells.…”