Proteins that share the common characteristic of binding to carbohydrates. Some ANTIBODIES and carbohydrate-metabolizing proteins (ENZYMES) also bind to carbohydrates, however they are not considered lectins. PLANT LECTINS are carbohydrate-binding proteins that have been primarily identified by their hemagglutinating activity (HEMAGGLUTININS). However, a variety of lectins occur in animal species where they serve diverse array of functions through specific carbohydrate recognition.

Descriptor ID	D037102
MeSH Number(s)	D12.776.503
Concept/Terms	Lectins Lectins Isolectins Isolectins Isolectin Animal Lectins Animal Lectins Lectins, Animal

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Lectins".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Lectins".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Lectins".