Wheat germ agglutinin
Encyclopedia
Wheat germ agglutinin or WGA is a lectin
that protects wheat (Triticum vulgaris) from insects, yeast and bacteria. An agglutinin
protein, it binds to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and Sialic acid
. 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
and cornea
among other places. In those animals sialic acid
is found in mucous membranes, e.g. the lining of the inner nose, and digestive tract.
Lectin
Lectins are sugar-binding proteins that are highly specific for their sugar moieties. They play a role in biological recognition phenomena involving cells and proteins. For example, some viruses use lectins to attach themselves to the cells of the host organism during infection...
that protects wheat (Triticum vulgaris) from insects, yeast and bacteria. An agglutinin
Agglutinin
An agglutinin is a substance that causes particles to coagulate to form a thickened mass . Agglutinins can be antibodies that cause antigens to aggregate by binding to the antigen-binding sites of antibodies. Agglutinins can also be any substance other than antibodies such as sugar-binding...
protein, it binds to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and Sialic acid
Sialic acid
Sialic acid is a generic term for the N- or O-substituted derivatives of neuraminic acid, a monosaccharide with a nine-carbon backbone. It is also the name for the most common member of this group, N-acetylneuraminic acid...
. 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
Cartilage
Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in many areas in the bodies of humans and other animals, including the joints between bones, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the elbow, the knee, the ankle, the bronchial tubes and the intervertebral discs...
and cornea
Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
among other places. In those animals sialic acid
Sialic acid
Sialic acid is a generic term for the N- or O-substituted derivatives of neuraminic acid, a monosaccharide with a nine-carbon backbone. It is also the name for the most common member of this group, N-acetylneuraminic acid...
is found in mucous membranes, e.g. the lining of the inner nose, and digestive tract.
See also
- ProteopediaProteopediaProteopedia is a wiki, 3D encyclopedia of proteins and other molecules..The site contains a page for every entry in the Protein Data Bank , as well as pages that are more descriptive of protein structures in general such as acetylcholinesterase, hemoglobin, and the photosystem II with a Jmol view...
: 2uvo - High resolution crystal structure of Wheat Germ Agglutinin in complex with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine - ProteopediaProteopediaProteopedia is a wiki, 3D encyclopedia of proteins and other molecules..The site contains a page for every entry in the Protein Data Bank , as well as pages that are more descriptive of protein structures in general such as acetylcholinesterase, hemoglobin, and the photosystem II with a Jmol view...
: 2uwg - Crystal structure of Wheat Germ Agglutinin isolectin 1 in complex with glycosylurethan