The insight into the biology of five homologous lectins produced by the entomopathogenic bacterium and nematode symbiont Photorhabdus laumondii.

ABSTRACT: Photorhabdus laumondii is a well-known bacterium with a complex life cycle involving mutualism with nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis and pathogenicity towards insect hosts. It provides an excellent model for studying the diverse roles of lectins, saccharide-binding proteins, in both symbiosis and pathogenicity. This study focuses on the seven-bladed β-propeller lectins of P. laumondii (PLLs), examining their biochemical properties (structure and saccharide specificity) and biological functions (gene expression, interactions with the nematode symbiont, and the host immune system response). Structural analyses revealed diverse oligomeric states among PLLs and a unique organisation of binding sites not described outside the PLL lectin family. Lectins exhibited high specificity for fucos

SUBMITTER: Paulenova E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12203525 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature