title: Potato lectin: an updated model of a unique chimeric plant protein.
abstract: A complete cDNA encoding a potato tuber lectin has been identified and sequenced. Based on the deduced amino acid sequence, the still enigmatic molecular structure of the classical chimeric potato lectin could eventually be determined. Basically, the potato lectin consists of two nearly identical chitin-binding modules, built up of two in-tandem arrayed hevein domains that are interconnected by an extensin-like domain of approximately 60 amino acid residues. Although this structure confirms the 'canonical' chimeric nature of the Solanaceae lectins, it differs fundamentally from all previously proposed models. The new insights in the structure are also discussed in view of the physiological role of the Solanaceae lectins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium. ElsJM.Van Damme@UGent.be
authors.forename: Els J M
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barre
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rougé
authors.forename: Willy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Peumans
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C045875:hevein