Biopolymers and cell. 2003; 19 (2): 164 - 168

Discovery of lectin-like proteins in the tobacco and datura plants, infected by tobacco mosaic virus

O. G. Kovalenko, T. A. Telegeeva, A. M. Kyrychenko

The plant proteins of tobacco and datura able to interact with yeast mannans immobilized on spheron H-1000 have been studied by gel-filtration and affinity chromatography. The hypersensitive plants infected by TMV have been established to produce lectin-like proteins capable to interact as ligands with the yeast α( l,2)-α(l,3)-α(l,6)-connected mannan. Previous study showed this biopolymer can be involved in the hypersensitive virus-induced reaction, probably modulating the action of cellular glycopolymer-inductor(s). At the virus infection localisation the lectin-like proteins are suggested to convert into a soluble form and to function as a regulator owing to their specific interaction with the inducer(s).