AN INSECTICIDAL N-ACETYLGLUCOSAMINE-SPECIFIC LECTIN GENE FROM GRIFFONIA-SIMPLICIFOLIA (LEGUMINOSAE)

Griffonia simplicifolia II, an N-acetylglucosamine-specific legume lec tin, has insecticidal activity when fed to the cowpea weevil, Callosob ruchos maculatus (F.). A cDNA clone encoding G. simplicifolia II was i solated from a leaf cDNA library, sequenced, and expressed in a bacter ial expression system. The recombinant protein exhibited N-acetylgluco samine-binding and insecticidal activity against cowpea weevil, indica ting that glycosylation and multimeric structure are not required for these properties. These results support the hypothesis that genes of t he legume lectin gene family encode proteins that function in plant de fense against herbivores.