INTERACTIONS OF PLANT-LECTINS WITH THE COMPONENTS OF THE BACTERIAL-CELL WALL PEPTIDOGLYCAN

Forty-five plant lectins/isolectins of various origins, including lectins from fungi, were assayed for their reactivity towards the components of the cell wall peptidoglycan (muramic acid, N-acetylmuramic acid, N-acetylglucosamine and muramyl-dipeptides). Many lectins from the tribe Vicieae strongly reacted with both muramic acid, N-acetylmuramic acid and muramyl-dipeptides. Lectins from other Leguminosae tribes were generally less reactive, whilst lectins belonging to other families were poorly reactive or unreactive as well. Molecular modelling and docking performed with muramic acid and muramyl-dipeptides explain these observed discrepancies. These results suggest that lectins of the Leguminosae could be involved in plant-bacteria interactions which could, in turn, promote some saprophytic, symbiotic or pathogenic relationships.