Lectin Protein in Arabidopsis Confers Resistance Against Pathogens

Lectins are glycoproteins that recognize and bind to specific carbohydrates. They are involved in a range of biological functions, such as plant defense, storage protein, seed germination and plant microbe interactions. Researchers from the Biology Department of Pelita Harapan University, Indonesia and University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia, worked together to characterize the Lectin 3.1 (At3g15356) protein in the plant model, Arabidopsis thaliana. Its structure and function were also studied using CD spectra and X-ray crystallography.

The Lectin 3.1 protein has been shown to be  highly-expressed in the plant's defense pathway, especially in response to methyl ester jasmonate (MJ). MJ is one of the signals that mediate plant responses to many biotic and abiotic stresses by triggering a  metabolic pathway that allows cells to cope with pathogens and stress. Molecular analysis of genetically modified Arabidopsis that contain the gene for increased Lectin 3.1 production were found to contain the two forms of the protein. These lines were found to have reduced number of nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) eggs in an assay involving non-GM and GM lines. This data provides evidence that lectin 3.1 improves plant resistance against M. incognita infection and that the nematode gut lining contains fucose, the receptor of the lectin 3.1 protein.

For more information on this research, visit http://www.biotechindonesia.org/ or email Maria P. Omega at prihtamala_omega@yahoo.com. For information on biotechnology in Indonesia, contact Dewi Suryani of Biotrop at dewisuryani@biotrop.org.