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Jasmonate methyl ester induces the synthesis of a cytoplasmic/nuclear chitooligosaccharide‐binding lectin in tobacco leaves
Author(s) -
Chen Ying,
Peumans Willy J.,
Hause Bettina,
Bras Julien,
Kumar Mukesh,
Proost Paul,
Barre Annick,
Rougé Pierre,
Van Damme Els J. M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.01-0598fje
Subject(s) - nicotiana tabacum , lectin , jasmonic acid , biology , methyl jasmonate , c type lectin , cytoplasm , biochemistry , glycoprotein , nicotiana , jasmonate , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , arabidopsis , solanaceae , mutant
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.