title: Bacterial attachment as related to cellular recognition in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.
abstract: Bacterial attachment is viewed as a cellular recognition event during the infection of legumes by the nitrogen-fixing symbiont, Rhizobium. Studies on the biochemical basis of selective attachment are reviewed, and suggest that this recognition process is accomplished by specific glycoprotein lectin-polysaccharide interactions on the surfaces of the symbionts. An understanding of host specificity may lead to ways to broaden the host range of nitrogen-fixing symbioses.
mesh_terms: D007887:Fabaceae / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007700:Kinetics; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013559:Symbiosis