The Carbohydrate-binding Specificity of a Highly Toxic Protein from Abrus pulchellus Seeds

Plant-insect interactions: an evolutionary arms race between two distinct defense mechanisms

“…Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins usually found in legume plants, mainly in the storage organs and protective structures (Ramos et al, 2001). The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) presents three classes of these insecticidal proteins, phytohemagglutinins, arcelins and α-amylase inhibitors which comprise the bean-lectin gene family (Moreno and Chrispeels, 1989;Chrispeels and Raikhel, 1991).…”

Dormancy as exaptation to protect mimetic seeds against deterioration before dispersal

“…To ensure the success of such a strategy, however, seeds must remain viable even if they experience environmental conditions that enhance physiological deterioration and insect predation, such as those commonly prevailing in moist tropical forests. Seed predation may be partially countered in these plant species by the accumulation of secondary compounds in mimetic seeds, especially alkaloids that deter most insect predators (Games et al, 1974;Hargreaves et al, 1974;Ramos, 1999;Galetti, 2002;Guimara ˜es et al, 2003;Cazetta et al, 2008). However, little information is available on how mimetic seeds remain viable under environmental conditions normally conducive to deterioration and rotting.…”

A study of glycoprotein–lectin interactions using quartz crystal microbalance

“…It was found that fetuin has a wider range of affinity as it can be bound by all the lectins tested. It can be explained by the fact that fetuin contains sialic acid, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine and mannose glycans attached through asparagine residues [21], and therefore all the lectins used could bind to fetuin with relatively strong affinity. Asialofetuin has a similar structure as fetuin [22].…”