Cell-surface lectin-reactive

VIII. Cell-surface, Lectin-reactive Glycoproteins. 317... 

Although it is probable that glycolipids represent important components of trypanosomatids, they have not so far been associated with cell surface reactivity related to phenomena such as host cell penetration, antibody and lectin binding, cell adherence and colony formation in vivo. Structural studies of these purified molecules constitute the first step in the understanding of their function. 

Studies on the white clover -Rhizobium trifolii interaction are the most advanced. Trifoliin A, a lectin present in clover-seedling roots, binds hapten reversibly to carbohydrate antigens cross-reactive on the capsular polysaccharide of R. trifolii and clover epidermal-cells.244 A specific hapten that inhibits binding of trifoliin A to both surfaces is 2-deoxy-D-arabino-hexose.245 It has also been shown that levels of trifoliin A on root hairs decline with increasing concentrations of nitrate, in parallel to root-nodule development,246 and that lectin receptors are transient on R. trifolii, in a way coinciding with its capacity to be adsorbed to clover roots.247... 

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