lectin
noun
lec·tin
| \ ˈlek-tən
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Definition of lectin
: any of a group of proteins especially of plants that are not antibodies and do not originate in an immune system but bind specifically to carbohydrate-containing receptors on cell surfaces (as of red blood cells)
Examples of lectin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The side of the story that doesn’t always get told is that lectins are rendered harmless during cooking. — Abby Langer, SELF, "Most Diets Don't Work, But If a Diet Promises These 4 Things, Run Away," 5 Jan. 2019 Most of us, however, don’t have a problem with the lectins in legumes, the gluten in grains, and the sugar in a reasonable amount of fruit. — Abby Langer, SELF, "5 Diet Tips You Should Ignore, According to a Registered Dietitian," 6 Sep. 2018 On Goop, Gundry promotes the idea that lectins, a type of protein found in certain plants, such as kidney beans, cause diseases like asthma, multiple sclerosis, or irritable bowel syndrome. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, "In Goop We Trust?," 12 Sep. 2017 But when the lectin binds, the bacteria that attaches changes the balance of the droplets, causing them to tip on their side. — Nathan Hurst, Smithsonian, "Can a Camera, a QR Code and Some Bubbles Test For E. Coli In Our Food?," 18 Apr. 2017 According to Gundry, the problem is lectins, a type of protein found mostly in plants that bind to cell membranes, damaging them. — Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, "Are your health problems not your fault? That's what this new book says," 3 Aug. 2017 To these droplets, the scientists attach a plant protein called lectin, which binds to E. coli. — Nathan Hurst, Smithsonian, "Can a Camera, a QR Code and Some Bubbles Test For E. Coli In Our Food?," 18 Apr. 2017 Some or most beans contain a toxin called a lectin or phytohemagglutinin (PHA); its highest concentration is in red kidney beans. — Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Safety first when it comes to toxic beans," 9 June 2017 A 2016 study in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention found that the lectins in oyster mushrooms may help reduce the toxic impact of arsenic on the liver and kidneys. — Consumer Reports, Washington Post, "To improve your diet, know these four food myths," 21 May 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lectin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for lectin
lectin
noun
lec·tin
| \ ˈlek-tən
\
\
Medical Definition of lectin
: any of a group of proteins especially of plants that are not antibodies and do not originate in an immune system but bind specifically to carbohydrate-containing receptors on cell surfaces (as of red blood cells)