Vegetative tissue lectins of peanut (A. hypogaea)
Singh, R.; Gautam, H.; Jayaraman, V.; Nair, G.; Das, H.
Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics 34(1-2): 72-75
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1208 PMID: 9343931 Document Number: 471885
Lectin activities in roots, nodules, stems and leaves of 1- to 6-week-old groundnut plants were determined by erythrocyte (human and rabbit) agglutination and sugar inhibition assays. Human and rabbit erythrocyte agglutinating activities were specifically inhibited by lactose/cellobiose (SLII) and methyl alpha -mannoside (SLI), respectively. Seeds, embryos and cotyledons agglutinated neuraminidase-treated human erythrocytes and that activity was inhibited by T-disaccharide. In the roots of field-grown plants, SLI was the major activity, while nodules showed both activities (SLI and SLII). Specific activities of SLI and SLII were highest in stem tissue and lowest in hypocotyl. Actively growing tissues such as newly emerging young leaves and elongating stem contained more SLII activity than mature tissues. Immunological testing indicated that all the vegetative tissue lectins are serologically related.