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Abstract
The binding of mitogenic lectins to the glycoconjugates on cell surface receptor triggers multitude of reactions involving different signal transduction pathways which ultimately results in cell proliferation. Since 1960 after the chance discovery of mitogenic property of lectins by Nowell, it has attracted more attention. The property of stimulation of mature lymphocytes aided the immunological investigations to study and analyse the mechanism of cell stimulation and division. Plant lectins are extensively studied for mitogenic activity and their widespread applications are also reported. During the past two decades, the study of biological properties of microbial lectins has increased tremendously. Their biological activities including mitogenic potential are equally applicable as that of plant lectins. The review mainly focuses on mitogenic potential of microbial lectins. It will provide a comprehensive view regarding distribution of this remarkable property among microbes including algae, fungi and bacteria, mechanisms and models of mitogenic stimulation, and also assays being employed to detect the mitogenic activity.