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Narcissus and Daffodil

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<strong>Narcissus</strong> lectins 381<br />

This chapter will focus on the lectins present in different species <strong>and</strong> cultivars of<br />

<strong>Narcissus</strong> (daffodil). As will be shown below, narcissus lectin has been studied in<br />

detail <strong>and</strong> is shown to be a typical representative of the family of monocot mannosebinding<br />

lectins. After a brief description of the occurrence of the lectin in different<br />

<strong>Narcissus</strong> species <strong>and</strong> cultivars <strong>and</strong> the purification of the lectins therefrom, the<br />

most important findings on the molecular characteristics, carbohydrate-binding<br />

properties <strong>and</strong> biological activities of the narcissus lectin will be summarised.<br />

Furthermore, we will elaborate on the possible function of the lectin in planta as<br />

well as on possible applications of the lectin in biomedical <strong>and</strong> glycoconjugate<br />

research. Finally, a comparison of the narcissus lectin to other known plant lectins<br />

will be made.<br />

OCCURRENCE OF LECTINS IN DIFFERENT NARCISSUS<br />

SPECIES AND CULTIVARS<br />

The occurrence, isolation <strong>and</strong> characterisation of a lectin in bulbs of <strong>Narcissus</strong> was<br />

first described in 1988 (Van Damme et al., 1988). Since then lectin activity has<br />

been detected in more than 25 species <strong>and</strong> varieties of <strong>Narcissus</strong> (Table 16.1; Van<br />

Damme <strong>and</strong> Peumans, 1990a).<br />

Table 16.1 <strong>Narcissus</strong> Species <strong>and</strong> Cultivars with Lectin Activity a<br />

Botanical species, etc<br />

<strong>Narcissus</strong> × medioluteus (N. biflorus)<br />

N. bulbocodium subsp. bulbocodium var. conspicuus<br />

N. jonquilla<br />

N. nanus (N. lobularis)<br />

N. × maclaeyi<br />

N. moschatus<br />

N. nanus<br />

N. obvallaris<br />

N. poeticus var. physaloides<br />

N. pumilus<br />

N. poeticus var. recurvus<br />

N. tazetta<br />

Cultivars derived wholly or partly from:<br />

N. poeticus: ‘Glory of Lisse’<br />

‘Horace’<br />

‘Ornatus’ (N. ornatus)<br />

N. cyclamineus: ‘Bartley’<br />

‘Peeping Tom’<br />

N. jonquilla: ‘Bobbysoxer’<br />

‘Rugulosus’ (N. odorus rugulosus)<br />

N. pseudonarcissus: ‘Carlton’<br />

‘Codlins <strong>and</strong> Cream’<br />

‘Colleen Bawn’<br />

‘Empress’<br />

‘Queen of Spain’<br />

‘W.P. Milner’<br />

Other: ‘Double Campernelle’<br />

Note<br />

a Van Damme <strong>and</strong> Peumans (1990a); names in parenthesis are synonyms.

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