Lectins are structurally diverse proteins that bind to specific carbohydrates. This family includes the VIP36 Swiss:P49256 and ERGIC-53 Swiss:P49257 lectins. These two proteins were the first recognised members of a family of animal lectins similar (19-24%) to the leguminous plant lectins [1]. The alignment for this family aligns residues lying towards the N-terminus, where the similarity of VIP36 and ERGIC-53 is greatest. However, while Fiedler and Simons [1] identified these proteins as a new family of animal lectins, our alignment also includes yeast sequences. ERGIC-53 is a 53kD protein, localised to the intermediate region between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus (ER-Golgi-Intermediate Compartment, ERGIC). It was identified as a calcium-dependent, mannose-specific lectin [2]. Its dysfunction has been associated with combined factors V and VIII deficiency OMIM:227300 OMIM:601567, suggesting an important and substrate-specific role for ERGIC-53 in the glycoprotein- secreting pathway [2,3].

1: A putative novel class of animal lectins in the secretory pathway homologous to leguminous lectins. Fiedler K, Simons K; Cell 1994;77:625-626. PMID:8205612

2: ERGIC-53 is a functional mannose-selective and calcium-dependent human homologue of leguminous lectins. Itin C, Roche AC, Monsigny M, Hauri HP; Mol Biol Cell 1996;7:483-493. PMID:8868475

3: ERGIC-53 gene structure and mutation analysis in 19 combined factors V and VIII deficiency families. Nichols WC, Terry VH, Wheatley MA, Yang A, Zivelin A, Ciavarella N, Stefanile C, Matsushita T, Saito H, de Bosch NB, Ruiz-Saez A, Torres A, Thompson AR, Feinstein DI, White GC, Negrier C, Vinciguerra C, Aktan M, Kaufman RJ, Ginsburg D, Seligsohn U; Blood 1999;93:2261-2266. PMID:10090935