Effect of the Urtica dioica agglutinin on germination and cell wall formation of Phycomyces blakesleeanus Burgeff

The lectin from stinging nettle rhizomes, Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA), did not affect the evolution of wet and dry weight, protein, nucleic acid, ATP, cAMP and glycerol content during early germination of Phycomyces blakesleeanus spores. However, earlier investigations established a strongly reduced mycelial growth of several phytopathogenic fungi by this small plant lectin. Total uptake and incorporation of radioactive precursors showed no differences between UDA or control hyphae, but UDA significantly altered the distribution patterns of [¹⁴C]-glucose incorporated into the walls of Phycomyces blakesleeanus (more label was recovered in the chitin fraction). Moreover, a small but significant stimulation of chitin synthase and a similar inhibition of chitin deacetylase was found in cell wall preparations. These observations could lead to a better understanding of plant-pathogen interrelationships and to a further elucidation of cell wall structure in fungi.Abbreviations GlcNAc N-Acetylglucosamine - PDB potato dextrose broth - PMM Phycomyces minimal medium - UDA Urtica dioica agglutinin - TEA tri-ethyl-amine - DAB 1,4-diaminobutanone     

Isolation and partial characterization of a lectin from ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria) rhizomes

A lectin has been isolated from rhizomes of ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria) using a combination of affinity chromatography on erythrocyte membrane proteins immobilized on cross-linked agarose and hydroxyapatite, and ion-exchange chromatography. The molecular structure of the lectin was determined by gelfiltration, sucrose density-gradient centrifugation and gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. It has an unusually high M_r (about 480000) and is most probably an octamer composed of two distinct types of subunits with slightly different M_r (about 60000). Hapten inhibition assays indicated that the Aegopodium lectin is preferentially inhibited by N-acetylgalactosamine. Nevertheless, it does not agglutinate preferentially blood-group-A erythrocytes. The ground-elder lectin is a typical non-seed lectin, which occurs virtually exclusively in the underground rhizomes. In this organ it is an abundant protein as it represents up to 5% of the total protein content. The lectin content of the rhizome tissue varies strongly according to its particular location along the organ. In addition, the lectin content changes dramatically as a function of the seasons. The ground-elder lectin differs from all other plant lectins by its unusually high molecular weight. In addition, it is the first lectin to be isolated from a species of the family Apiaceae.Abbreviations APA Aegopodium podagraria agglutinin - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

A new lectin from tulip (Tulipa) bulbs

A lectin was isolated from tulip (Tulipa) bulbs by affinity chromatography on fetuin-agarose and partially characterized. The tulip lectin is a tetrameric protein composed of four identical subunits of M_r 28 000, which are not held together by disulphide bonds. It is not glycosylated and has an amino-acid composition typified by a high content of asparagine-aspartic acid, leucine, glycine and serine. Tulip lectin agglutinates human red blood cells, but has a much higher specific activity with rabbit erythrocytes. In hapten-inhibition assays with the latter type of red blood cell the lectin exhibits a complex specificity, whereas its agglutination with human erythrocytes is readily inhibited by N-acetylgalactosamine, lactose, fucose and galactose.Abbreviations DEAE diethylaminoethyl - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - TL Tulipa lectin - M_r relative molecular mass - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

A comparative study of bark lectins from three elderberry (Sambucus) species

Three elderberry lectins isolated from the bark of three different species of the genus Sambucus which are native to Europe (S. nigra), North America (S. canadensis), and Japan (S. sieboldiana) were studied comparatively with regard to their carbohydrate binding properties and some structural features. All three lectins contained two identical carbohydrate binding sites per molecule and showed a very high specificity for the Neu5Ac(alpha 2-6)-Gal/GalNAc sequence. However, relative affinities for various oligosaccharides were significantly different among them, suggesting differences in the detailed structure of the carbohydrate binding sites of these lectins. The three lectins were immunologically related, but not identical, and all were composed of hydrophobic and hydrophilic subunit regions, although the molecular sizes of these subunits were slightly different among the three lectins. N-terminal sequence analysis of the subunits of these lectins suggested that they have a very similar structure in this region but also indicated the occurrence of N-terminal processing such as the deletion of several amino acid residues at the N-termini for both hydrophobic and hydrophilic subunits of all three lectins. Tryptic peptide mapping of the three lectins showed a similar pattern for all of them but also showed the presence of some unique peptides for each lectin.     

Molecular cloning of the lectin and a lectin-related protein from common Solomon's seal (Polygonatum multiflorum)

The most prominent protein ofPolygonatum multiflorum (common Solomon's seal) rhizomes has been identified as a mannose-binding lectin. Analysis of the purified lectin demonstrated that it is a tetramer of four identical subunits of 14 kDa. Molecular cloning further revealed that the lectin from this typical Liliaceae species belongs to the superfamily of monocot mannose-binding proteins. Screening of cDNA libraries constructed with RNA isolated from buds, leaves and flowers ofP. multiflorum also yielded cDNA clones encoding a protein, which contains two tandemly arranged domains with an obvious sequence homology to the mannose-binding lectins. Molecular modelling of thePolygonatum lectin and lectin-related protein indicated that the three-dimensional structure of both proteins strongly resembles that of the snowdrop lectin. In addition, this approach suggested that the presumed carbohydrate-binding sites of the lectin can accommodate a mannose residue whereas most of the carbohydratebinding sites of the lectin-related protein cannot.Abbreviations GNA Galanthus nivalis agglutinin - HCA hydrophobic cluster analysis - LECPMA cDNA clone encoding PMA - PM30 30 kDa protein isolated fromPolygonatum multiforum - PMA Polygonatum multiflorum agglutinin - PMLRP Polygonatum multiflorum lectin-related protein     

Isolation and cDNA cloning of an Em-like protein from mung bean (Vigna radiata) axes

Until now no 'early-methionine-labelled' (Em) proteins have been reported in the Fabaceae. To check whether a previously isolated low-molecular mass albumin from dry mung bean embryonic axes possibly corresponded to an Em-like protein, the protein was purified, sequenced and its cDNA clone isolated and characterized. N-terminal sequencing of cyanogen bromide cleavage products of the protein revealed homology with previously described Em-like proteins from other species. Analysis of cDNA clones encoding the mung bean Em protein revealed the presence of two classes of Em proteins and confirmed their homology to the previously characterized Em-like proteins. In vivo labelling and northern blot analysis further demonstrated that the mung bean protein is synthesized during early germination of the axes and that abscisic acid (ABA) extends its synthesis. It appears, therefore, that legumes also contain maturation-specific, ABA-responsive Em-like proteins.     

The bark of Robinia pseudoacacia contains a complex mixture of lectins.Characterization of the proteins and the cDNA clones.

Two lectins were isolated from the inner bark of Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust). The first (and major) lectin (called RPbAI) is composed of five isolectins that originate from the association of 31.5- and 29-kD polypeptides into tetramers. In contrast, the second (minor) lectin (called RPbAII) is a hometetramer composed of 26-kD subunits. The cDNA clones encoding the polypeptides of RPbAI and RPbAII were isolated and their sequences determined. Apparently all three polypeptides are translated from mRNAs of approximately 1.2 kb. Alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences of the different clones indicates that the 31.5- and 29-kD RPbAI polypeptides show approximately 80% sequence identity and are homologous to the previously reported legume seed lectins, whereas the 26-kD RPbAII polypeptide shows only 33% sequence identity to the previously described legume lectins. Modeling the 31.5-kD subunit of RPbAI predicts that its three-dimensional structure is strongly related to the three-dimensional models that have been determined thus far for a few legume lectins. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA isolated from Robinia has revealed that the Robinia bark lectins are the result of the expression of a small family of lectin genes.     

Lectin binding sites during Drosophila embryogenesis

The spectrum of lectin binding sites as it emerges during embryonic development of Drosophila was analysed by means of fluorescein-labelled lectins. As development and morphogenesis proceed, the reaction pattern becomes more and more complex. Mannose/glucose-, mannose-, N-acetylglucosamine- and poly-N-ace-tylglucosamine-specific lectins bind ubiquitously. Nuclear envelopes only have binding sites for wheat germ agglutinin. N-acetylgalactosamine-binding lectins are specific for ectodermal derivatives. Ga-3-N-acetylgalac-tosamine-binding lectins are highly selective markers for neural structures, haemocytes and Garland cells. It is also shown that Drosophila laminin is differentially glycosylated. The possible implications of differential and germ layer-specific glycosylation are discussed.Dedicated to the memory of Jan Callaerts     

The closely related homomeric and heterodimeric mannose-binding lectins from garlic are encoded by one-domain and two-domain lectin genes, respectively.

Lectin cDNA clones for two different lectins from garlic (Allium sativum L.) bulbs, ASAI and ASAII (ASA, Allium sativum agglutinin), were isolated and characterized. The first lectin, ASAI, is a heterodimer composed of two different subunits of 11.5 kDa and 12.5 kDa. It is translated from an mRNA of 1400 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 306 amino acids with two very similar domains. N-terminal sequencing of the two polypeptides of the mature lectin confirmed that both subunits are derived from the same precursor and that each corresponds to one of the two domains in the sequence. In contrast to ASAI, the second garlic lectin, ASAII, is a homodimer of two identical 12-kDa subunits. It is translated from an mRNA of approximately 800 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 154 amino acids. Interestingly, the coding region of the ASAII cDNA clones is almost identical to that of the second domain of the ASAI cDNA clones.     

Isolation and characterization of a second lectin (SNA-II) present in elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) bark

A second lectin (SNA-II) has been isolated from elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) bark by affinity chromatography on immobilized asialo-glycophorin. This lectin is a blood group nonspecific glycoprotein containing 7.8% carbohydrate and which is rich in asparagine/aspartic acid, glutamine/glutamic acid, glycine, valine, and leucine. Gel filtration on Superose 12 gave a single symmetrical peak corresponding to Mr, 51,000; SDS-acrylamide electrophoresis gave a single polypeptide, Mr, 30,000. Hence SNA-II appears to be a homodimer. The lectin is a Gal/GalNAc-specific lectin which is precipitated by glycoproteins containing GalNAc-terminated oligosaccharide chains (e.g., asialo-ovine submaxillary and hog gastric mucins), and by glycoproteins and polysaccharides having multiple terminal nonreducing D-galactosyl groups as occur in asialoglycophorin, asialo-laminin and Type 14 pneumococcal polysaccharide. The carbohydrate binding specificity of SNA-II was studied by sugar hapten inhibition of the asialo-glycophorin precipitation reaction. The lectin's binding site appears to be most complementary to Gal-NAc linked alpha to the C-2, C-3, or C-6 hydroxyl group of galactose. These disaccharide units are approximately 100 times more potent than melibiose, 60 times more potent than N-acetyllactosamine, and 30 times more potent than lactose. Interestingly, the blood group A-active trisaccharide containing an L-fucosyl group linked alpha 1-2 to galactose was 10-fold poorer as an inhibitor than the parent oligosaccharide (GalNAc alpha 1-3Gal), suggesting steric hindrance to binding by the alpha-L-fucosyl group; this explains the failure of the lectin to exhibit blood group A specificity.