[Stabilizing effect of Azospirillum lectins on beta-glucosidase activity]

Lectins from the surface of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 and Azospirillumn brasilense Sp7.2.3 (a mutant with impaired lectin activity) were shown to induce a stabilizing effect on the activity of almond beta-glucosidase under conditions of thermoinactivation and proteolytic enzyme treatment. Differences were revealed in the influence of lectins with various antigenic properties. Our results indicate that the effects of lectins on the catalytic activity of the enzyme are mainly associated with conformational changes in lectin molecules during mutagenesis, but not with carbohydrate specificity (general property). These data should be taken into account in evaluating the role of lectins in the formation of nitrogen-fixing associations.