Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that bind gly? cans of glycoproteins, glycolipids, or polysaccharides with high affinity (Goldstein and Hayes, 1978). Because of their binding specificity, they have the capability to serve as recognition molecules within a cell, between cells, or be? tween organisms. It is assumed that lectins play fundamental biological roles in plants because they are found in many different species and in many different organs and tissues.