In Silico Comparative Analysis of Legume Lectins

Most plant lectins exhibit other properties. Some also bind plant growth regulators, the cytokinins, which are small hydrophobic molecules derivate from adenine [5,6]. They are secreted proteins and are found in vacuoles, cell walls, or intercellular spaces, of just about every plant organ [7]. Legume root lectins, are involved in the recognition and binding of Rhizobium and Brudyrhizobium sp. for symbiotic purposes. Based on the host specificity between legume and rhizobial symbiotic partners, the lectin-recognition hypothesis [8-10], explains the strong correlation between the Rhizobiaceae family bacteria and their legume hosts, and the ability of host produced lectins to bind to Rhizobium cells [7].