D-Galactopyranosyl-specific Lectins

In this Section will be discussed plant lectins that specifically bind to a-D-galactopyranosyl residues. Lectins of a special class that are specific for j8-D-glycosidic linkages487 also exist in the seeds and other tissues of plants. Various aspects of lectins have been reviewed by Goldstein and Hayes.488 

Plant lectins (also termed agglutinins, hemagglutinins, and phytohemagglutinins) are glycoprotein macromolecules that are capable of specific, noncovalent binding to carbohydrates.489 Lectins are known to occur widely in the seeds of plants488 however, they have also been 

Relative Affinities of Some Seed-lectins for o-D-Galsctopyranosyl Residues44  

Arachis hypogaea /3-D-Galp-(l- 3)-D-GalpNAc D-GalpNH, a-D-Galp 

The inhibition of the synthesis of auxin by D-galactose was also shown to be a contributory factor in the retardation of growth ofA vena coleoptiles.538-539 On the other hand, D-galactose-induced evolution of ethylene is known to retard the growth of mung-bean seedlings.540 

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