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Effect of the Urtica dioica agglutinin on germination and cell wall formation of Phycomyces blakesleeanus Burgeff

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Abstract

The lectin from stinging nettle rhizomes, Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA), did not affect the evolution of wet and dry weight, protein, nucleic acid, ATP, cAMP and glycerol content during early germination of Phycomyces blakesleeanus spores. However, earlier investigations established a strongly reduced mycelial growth of several phytopathogenic fungi by this small plant lectin. Total uptake and incorporation of radioactive precursors showed no differences between UDA or control hyphae, but UDA significantly altered the distribution patterns of [14C]-glucose incorporated into the walls of Phycomyces blakesleeanus (more label was recovered in the chitin fraction). Moreover, a small but significant stimulation of chitin synthase and a similar inhibition of chitin deacetylase was found in cell wall preparations. These observations could lead to a better understanding of plant-pathogen interrelationships and to a further elucidation of cell wall structure in fungi.

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Abbreviations

GlcNAc:

N-Acetylglucosamine

PDB:

potato dextrose broth

PMM:

Phycomyces minimal medium

UDA:

Urtica dioica agglutinin

TEA:

tri-ethyl-amine

DAB:

1,4-diaminobutanone

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Botany Institute, K.U.Leuven, Kardinaal Mercierlaan 92, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium

    Jan Van Parijs, Hilde M. Joosen, Jan M. Geuns & André J. Van Laere

  2. Laboratory for Phytopathology and Plant Protection, K.U.Leuven, De Croylaan 42, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium

    Willy J. Peumans

Authors
  1. Jan Van Parijs
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  2. Hilde M. Joosen
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  3. Willy J. Peumans
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  4. Jan M. Geuns
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  5. André J. Van Laere
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Van Parijs, J., Joosen, H.M., Peumans, W.J. et al. Effect of the Urtica dioica agglutinin on germination and cell wall formation of Phycomyces blakesleeanus Burgeff. Arch. Microbiol. 158, 19–25 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00249060

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