Tectonin : 24 glycan binding sites on a capside like-tetrameric architecture

Innate immunity protects organisms against attacks from microbial pathogens or animal predators. Whereas innate immunity is the first line of defense prior to induction of the adaptive immune reaction in aniùams, it is the sole defense barrier for plants and fungi.
One example for such a fungal defense is offered by Tectonin 2 a lectin from the mushroom Laccaria bicolor with specificity for O-methylated glycans. The resolution of the crystal structure of Tectonin, accompanied by Small Angle X-ray Scattering offers a detailed characterization of the carbohydrate binding sites, which, as many as 24, are symmetrically disposed on a surprising capsid-like tetrameric architecture.