Are they the same?

Question

Are Lectin and Lecithin the same thing ?????

Answer 1

Lectin is a naturally occuring protein which plays a role in the way plants and animals use sugars.

Lecithin is a naturally occuring chemical which is a key building block of cell membranes (it keeps them flexible). As a food additive it is an emulsifier used to make things more spreadable, and in the case of margarines, to inhibit spattering when frying.

Answer 2

Lectins are a type of receptor protein of non-immune origin that specifically interact with sugar molecules (carbohydrates) without modifying them. These proteins recognize and bind specifically to monosaccharides and are classified by which sugar they recognize. Most lectins recognize either N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-Acetylglucosamine, N-Acetylgalactosamine, galactose, mannose, or fucose. Lectins are found in a variety of species from plants to insects to man. There are two proposed biological roles for lectins in plants. The first is as an intermediary in the symbiosis between some plants and bacteria by aiding in the attachment of nitrogen-fixing bacteria to legumes. The second proposed role is in the protection of plant seedlings against pathogens such as fungi, viruses, and bacteria by binding to the surface of the microorganisms via sugar residues and inhibiting their growth.


Lecithin is mostly a mixture of glycolipids, triglycerides, and phospholipids (e.g. phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol). However, in biochemistry, lecithin is usually used as a synonym for pure phosphatidylcholine, a phospholipid which is the major component of a phosphatide fraction which may be isolated from either egg yolk (in Greek lekithos - λεκιθος) or soy beans from which it is mechanically or chemically extracted using hexane.

Lecithin is commercially available in high purity as a food supplement and for medical uses.

Answer 3

No they are not