Legume agglutinins that bind to Rhizobium meliloti

A protein found in seeds and roots of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was implicated in the specificity of the infection process, based on its binding to the symbiont Rhizobium meliloti. We found an agglutinin with similar properties in seeds and roots of sweet clover (Melilotis alba). The sweet clover differed from alfalfa in nodulation by a mutant strain of R. meliloti, but the agglutinins were indistinguishable by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Rhizobium agglutination, and cross-reactivity to antibodies. Similar agglutinins binding R. meliloti were found in seeds of legumes from different cross-inoculation groups, including soybean (Glycine max), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), pea (Pisum sativum L), and mung bean (Vigna mungo). The agglutinins from these legumes were recognized by antibodies raised against the agglutinins of alfalfa and sweet clover. Seeds of corn (Zea mays) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) contained a protein similar to the legume agglutinin, but it did not react with the antibodies. We conclude that the alfalfa agglutinin is representative of a common legume protein and that there is no evidence for its role in specificity or nodule initiation.