lectin. Lectins are important adhesin proteins, which bind carbohydrate structures on host cell surface. The carbohydrate specificity of diverse lectins to a large extent dictates bacteria tissue tropism by mediating specific attachment to unique host sites expressing the corresponding carbohydrate receptor.
Ricin-type beta-trefoil; Carbohydrate-binding domain formed from presumed gene triplication. The domain is found in a variety of molecules serving diverse functions such as enzymatic activity, inhibitory toxicity and signal transduction. Highly specific ligand binding occurs on exposed surfaces of the compact domain sturcture.