Characterization of the agglutinin domain gene family in flax (Linum usitatissimum).

摘要

Lectins are proteins that bind specifically to carbohydrates and are active in plant defense and other processes. The sequencing of the flax ( Linum usitatissimum) genome showed that it was unusually rich in genes predicted to encode one or more agglutinin domains (PFAM PF07468). This domain is characteristic of the amaranthin-type lectin family, thus the 19 predicted flax genes were named LuALLs (Linum usitatissimum amaranthin-like lectins). To investigate their functions, transcript expression of 19 LuALLs was measured using qRT-PCR. Some LuALLs were enriched in specific tissues, such as developing seeds, while most LuALLs were expressed at various levels throughout the vegetative and floral tissues assayed. Distinct clades of LuALLs were found to be inducible by either salicylic acid or methyl jasmonate, exclusively, consistent with a role for these genes in plant defense. Preliminary hemagglutination assays with a recombinant LuALL provided evidence that members of this family function as genuine lectins.