Wheat germ agglutinin

Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) is a lectin that protects wheat (Triticum) from insects, yeast and bacteria. An agglutinin protein, it binds to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and Sialic acid.[1] N-acetyl-D-glucosamine in the natural environment of wheat is found in the chitin of insects, and the cell membrane of yeast & bacteria. WGA is found abundantly—but not exclusively—in the wheat kernel, where it got the 'germ' name from. In mammals the N-acetyl-D-glucosamine that WGA binds to is found in cartilage[2] and cornea[3] among other places. In those animals sialic acid is found in mucous membranes, e.g. the lining of the inner nose, and digestive tract.

In solution, WGA exists mostly as a heterodimer of 38,000 daltons. It is cationic at physiological pH.

See also

  • Proteopedia: 2uvo – High resolution crystal structure of Wheat Germ Agglutinin in complex with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine
  • Proteopedia: 2uwg – Crystal structure of Wheat Germ Agglutinin isolectin 1 in complex with glycosylurethan

References

  1. ↑ Monsigny, Michel; Roche, Annie-Claude; Sene, Claude; Maget-Dana, Regine; Delmotte, Francis (9 April 1979). "Sugar-Lectin Interactions : How Does Wheat-Germ Agglutinin Bind Sialoglycoconjugates ?". European Journal of Biochemistry. 104 (1): 147–153. doi:10.1111/j.1432-1033.1980.tb04410.x.
  2. ↑ Ohno, Jun; Tajima, Yoshifumi; Utsumi, Nobuo (1986). "Binding of wheat germ agglutinin in the matrix of rat tracheal cartilage". The Histochemical Journal. 18: 537–540. doi:10.1007/BF01675194.
  3. ↑ Marfurt, Carl F. (1988). "Sympathetic innervation of the rat cornea as demonstrated by the retrograde and anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase-wheat germ agglutinin". The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 268: 147–160. doi:10.1002/cne.902680202.


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