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How is a toxin found in the kidney bean useful?

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September 17, 2001

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The red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) contains phytohemagglutinin (PHA), a protein that binds to white blood cells. PHA triggers the T-lymphocytes in the immune system to undergo mitosis (cell division) and interferes with cellular metabolism. The body gears up as if invaded by an infectious agent. When raw or undercooked kidney beans are consumed, this toxin causes nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea. But PHA is a toxin easily destroyed.

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PHA and its class of chemicals called lectins are useful. Lectins are prevalent in the legume or bean family, but are also found in other plant species as well as a number of bacteria and animals. Lectins are necessary for legumes to form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia. Each species of legume produces a lectin. Each lectin is specific; attaching and binding only certain rhizobia to the root system. (Roots that are inoculated with rhizobia form nodules.) Rhizobia recycle atmospheric nitrogen back into the soil keeping it fertile. Without the legume-rhizobia relationship, most of the earth's soil would have worn out. Lectins are also anti-herbivory devices, preventing the seeds and seedlings from being eaten.

Lectins are a boon to science and medicine. PHA extracted from kidney beans is used to stimulate weakened immune systems. In the last forty years, there have been hundreds of uses for lectins discovered. Because each lectin "recognizes" and attaches to only a specific receptor on a cell; they are used to type blood, induce the destruction of tumor cells, determine cellular structures, and study biological processes. Without lectins, we would know little of how the body functions. But for all we have learned, we remain mostly ignorant about the functions of lectins in nature.

The kidney bean is a valuable source of nutrition. The US Food and Drug Administration has prepared a document about the proper handling of this food. To learn more, click on the link:

http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap43.html

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