Jasmonic acid methyl ester induces the synthesis of a cytoplasmic/nuclear chito-oligosaccharide binding lectin in tobacco leaves.
In contrast to animal lectins, no evidence has indicated the occurrence of plant lectins, which recognize and bind "endogenous" receptors and accordingly are involved in recognition mechanisms within the organism itself. Here we show that the plant hormone jasmonic acid methyl ester (JAME) induces in leaves of Nicotiana tabacum (var. Samsun NN) the expression of a lectin that is absent from untreated plants. The lectin specifically binds to oligomers of N-acetylglucosamine and is detected exclusively in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Both the subcellular location and specificity indicate that the Nicotiana tabacum agglutinin (called Nictaba) may be involved in the regulation of gene expression in stressed plants through specific protein-carbohydrate interactions with regulatory cytoplasmic/nuclear glycoproteins. Searches in the databases revealed that many flowering plants contain sequences encoding putative homologues of the tobacco lectin, which suggest that Nictaba is the prototype of a widespread or possibly ubiquitous family of lectins with a specific endogenous role.
Chen
Ying
Y
Laboratory for Phytopathology and Plant Protection, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
Peumans
Willy J
WJ
Hause
Bettina
B
Bras
Julien
J
Kumar
Mukesh
M
Proost
Paul
P
Barre
Annick
A
Rougé
Pierre
P
Van Damme
Els J M
EJ
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000235:genetics; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D037102:Lectins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals / Q000235:genetics; D054883:Oxylipins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D037121:Plant Lectins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000085:Acetates; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D037102:Lectins; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D054883:Oxylipins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D037121:Plant Lectins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C050365:chito-oligosaccharide-specific Luffa-lectin; C072239:methyl jasmonate