Plant Lectin as defense proteins

Plant lectins are a very heterogeneous group of protein that all share one important biological property: they can recognize and bind reversibly to specific carbohydrate structures. They are one of the most important secondary metabolites in plants which are used as a defense tool against pathogens which attack plants. The primary functions of lectins are to act as recognition molecules within the immune system, storage proteins and cell surface adhesion. Lectins manifest a diversity of activities including anti-bacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial and antiviral. A small number of lectinsdemonstrates anti-parasitic activities.