A ConA-like lectin from Dioclea guianensis Benth. has antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, unlike its homologues, ConM and ConA

J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Apr 14;58(7):4090-6. doi: 10.1021/jf903254b.

Abstract

This study reports on the antifungal activity of Dgui, a ConA-like lectin from Dioclea guianensis seeds. Dgui inhibited conidial germination but not mycelial growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The lectins ConA and ConM from Canavalia ensiformis and Canavalia maritima, respectively, share high levels of amino acid sequence similarity (>84%) with Dgui and have the same specificity toward glucose/mannose but had no effect on the fungus. Fluorescence microscopy showed that both Dgui and ConM bind to C. gloeosporioides ungerminated conidia. However, Dgui did not bind to C. gloeosporioides germinated conidia and germ tubes and was not inhibitory to mycelial growth. Because only Dgui inhibited germination of the fungus, C. gloeosporioides conidia might have surface-specific germination targets recognized by Dgui but not by its homologues, ConM and ConA. Therefore, Dgui is a candidate for biotechnological approaches for improving the resistance of various nutritionally and commercially important crops that are affected by C. gloeosporioides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antifungal Agents / metabolism
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Colletotrichum / drug effects*
  • Colletotrichum / growth & development
  • Concanavalin A / chemistry
  • Concanavalin A / isolation & purification
  • Concanavalin A / pharmacology*
  • Dioclea / chemistry
  • Dioclea / metabolism*
  • Lectins / chemistry
  • Lectins / economics
  • Lectins / isolation & purification
  • Lectins / metabolism
  • Lectins / pharmacology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Lectins
  • Concanavalin A