Molecular characterization and expression analysis of a gene encoding mannose-binding lectin from bulb of Zephyranthes grandiflora

In this paper we report on the molecular cloning, sequencing and partially characterisation of a lectin from bulb of the Chinese medicinal plant Zephyranthes grandiflora. The full-length cDNA of Z. grandiflora bulb lectin (ZGBL) consisted of 986 bp and contained a 576 bp ORF encoding a 191 amino acid protein. Bioinformatics analysis results clearly indicate that ZGBL belongs to the monocot mannose-binding lectin family, which contains 3 putative mannose-binding sites per subunit. RT-PCR analysis results indicate that ZGBL is constitutively expressed in all the tested tissue types including root, bulb, leaf and flower. Interestingly, ZGBL is more closely related to the Orchidaceae rather than the Amaryllidaceae family on molecular evolution.