Role of lectins (and rhizobial exopolysaccharides) in legume nodulation (original) (raw)

Legume Lectins : A Promising Candidate for Confronting a Plethora of Biotic Stresses

Legume lectins are largest and best characterized families of plant lectins. These are homologous carbohydrate binding proteins that are found mainly in the seeds of legume plants. Despite their strong similarity on the level of their amino acid sequences and tertiary structures, their carbohydrate specificities and quaternary structures vary widely. In this review we will focus on the structural features of legume lectins and their complexes with carbohydrates. Legume lectins comprise a structurally related, Ca/Mn-dependent, widespread, abundant and well characterized lectin family when compared to the large number of lectins from other sources described in the literature. They have at least one non-catalytic domain that binds reversibly to specific monosaccharides or oligosaccharides. Legume lectins have diverse of activity such as antimicrobial, insecticidal activities, antitumor, immune-modulatory, and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory, which may find applications in many therapeutic areas.

Root Lectins and Rhizobia

Plant Physiology, 1997

Rhizobium bacteria are "good guys" for many leguminous plants. By establishing an N-fixing symbiosis, legumes and rhizobia help each other under conditions of N deficit. This development depends on molecular signals from both partners. Lectins released by the roots of legumes may have a role in this signaling process, and the nature of this role is the subject of this Update. For possible functions of plant (root) lectins in plant defense, we refer to a previous Update by Peumans and Van Damme (1995).

Legume Lectins: Proteins with Diverse Applications

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017

Lectins are a diverse class of proteins distributed extensively in nature. Among these proteins; legume lectins display a variety of interesting features including antimicrobial; insecticidal and antitumor activities. Because lectins recognize and bind to specific glycoconjugates present on the surface of cells and intracellular structures; they can serve as potential target molecules for developing practical applications in the fields of food; agriculture; health and pharmaceutical research. This review presents the current knowledge of the main structural characteristics of legume lectins and the relationship of structure to the exhibited specificities; provides an overview of their particular antimicrobial; insecticidal and antitumor biological activities and describes possible applications based on the pattern of recognized glyco-targets.