A gene encoding a hevein-like protein from elderberry fruits is homologous to PR-4 and class V chitinase genes

Cathepsins: Proteases that are vital for survival but can also be fatal

The state of enzymes in the human body determines the normal physiology or pathology, so all the six classes of enzymes are crucial. Proteases, the hydrolases, can be of several types based on the nucleophilic amino acid or the metal cofactor needed for their activity. Cathepsins are proteases with serine, cysteine, or aspartic acid residues as the nucleophiles, which are vital for digestion, coagulation, immune response, adipogenesis, hormone liberation, peptide synthesis, among a litany of other functions. But inflammatory state radically affects their normal roles. Released from the lysosomes, they degrade extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen and elastin, mediating parasite infection, autoimmune diseases, tumor metastasis, cardiovascular issues, and neural degeneration, among other health hazards. Over the years, the different types and isoforms of cathepsin, their optimal pH and functions have been studied, yet much information is still elusive. By taming and harnessing cathepsins, by inhibitors and judicious lifestyle, a gamut of malignancies can be resolved. This review discusses these aspects, which can be of clinical relevance.

Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals New Insights into High-Temperature-Dependent Glume-Unclosing in an Elite Rice Male Sterile Line

Glume-unclosing after anthesis is a widespread phenomenon in hybrid rice and also a maternal hereditary trait. The character of Glume-unclosing in rice male sterile lines also seriously influences germination rate and the commercial quality of hybrid rice seeds. We validated that the type of glume-unclosing after anthesis in the elite rice thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) line RGD-7S was caused by high temperature. Transcriptomic sequencing of rice panicles was performed to explore the change of transcript profiles under four conditions: pre- and post-anthesis under high temperature (HRGD0 and HRGD1), and pre- and post-anthesis under low temperature (LRGD0 and LRGD1). We identified a total of 14,540 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including some heat shock factors (HSFs) across the four samples. We found that more genes were up-regulated than down-regulated in the sample pair HRGD1vsHRGD0. These up-regulated genes were significantly enriched in the three biological processes of carbohydrate metabolism, response to water and cell wall macromolecular metabolism. Simultaneously, we also found that the HSF gene OsHsfB1 was specially up-regulated in HRGD1vsHRGD0. However, the down-regulated DEGs in LRGD1vsLRGD0 were remarkably clustered in the biological process of carbohydrate metabolism. This suggests that carbohydrate metabolism may play a key role in regulation of glume-unclosing under high temperature in RGD-7S. We also analyzed the expression pattern of genes enriched in carbohydrate metabolism and several HSF genes under different conditions and provide new insights into the cause of rice glume-unclosing.

Chitin and chitinase: Role in pathogenicity, allergenicity and health

Chitin, a polysaccharide with particular abundance in fungi, nematodes and arthropods is immunogenic. It acts as a threat to other organisms, to tackle which they have been endowed with chitinase enzyme. Even if this enzyme is not present in all organisms, they possess proteins having chitin-binding domain(s) (ChtBD). Many lethal viruses like Ebola, and HCV (Hepatitis C virus) have these domains to manipulate their carriers and target organisms. In keeping with the basic rule of survival, the self-origin (own body component) chitins and chitinases are protective, but that of non-self origin (from other organisms) are detrimental to health. The exogenous chitins and chitinases provoke human innate immunity to generate a deluge of inflammatory cytokines, which injure organs (leading to asthma, atopic dermatitis etc.), and in persistent situations lead to death (multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythromatosus (SLE), cancer, etc.). Unfortunately, chitin-chitinase-stimulated hypersensitivity is a common cause of occupational allergy. On the other hand, chitin, and its deacetylated derivative chitosan are increasingly proving useful in pharmaceutical, agriculture, and biocontrol applications. This critical review discusses the complex nexus of chitin and chitinase and assesses both their pathogenic as well as utilitarian aspects.

Structural and functional evolution of chitinase-like proteins from plants

The plant genome contains a large number of sequences that encode catalytically inactive chitinases referred to as chitinase-like proteins (CLPs). Although CLPs share high sequence and structural homology with chitinases of glycosyl hydrolase 18 (TIM barrel domain) and 19 families, they may lack the binding/catalytic activity. Molecular genetic analysis revealed that gene duplication events followed by mutation in the existing chitinase gene have resulted in the loss of activity. The evidences show that adaptive functional diversification of the CLPs has been achieved through alterations in the flexible regions than in the rigid structural elements. The CLPs plays an important role in the defense response against pathogenic attack, biotic and abiotic stress. They are also involved in the growth and developmental processes of plants. Since the physiological roles of CLPs are similar to chitinase, such mutations have led to plurifunctional enzymes. The biochemical and structural characterization of the CLPs is essential for understanding their roles and to develop potential utility in biotechnological industries. This review sheds light on the structure-function evolution of CLPs from chitinases.

The pathogenesis-related protein PR-4b from Theobroma cacao presents RNase activity, Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) dependent-DNase activity and antifungal action on Moniliophthora perniciosa

BACKGROUND

The production and accumulation of pathogenesis-related proteins (PR proteins) in plants in response to biotic or abiotic stresses is well known and is considered as a crucial mechanism for plant defense. A pathogenesis-related protein 4 cDNA was identified from a cacao-Moniliophthora perniciosa interaction cDNA library and named TcPR-4b.

RESULTS

TcPR-4b presents a Barwin domain with six conserved cysteine residues, but lacks the chitin-binding site. Molecular modeling of TcPR-4b confirmed the importance of the cysteine residues to maintain the protein structure, and of several conserved amino acids for the catalytic activity. In the cacao genome, TcPR-4b belonged to a small multigene family organized mainly on chromosome 5. TcPR-4b RT-qPCR analysis in resistant and susceptible cacao plants infected by M. perniciosa showed an increase of expression at 48 hours after infection (hai) in both cacao genotypes. After the initial stage (24-72 hai), the TcPR-4b expression was observed at all times in the resistant genotypes, while in the susceptible one the expression was concentrated at the final stages of infection (45-90 days after infection). The recombinant TcPR-4b protein showed RNase, and bivalent ions dependent-DNase activity, but no chitinase activity. Moreover, TcPR-4b presented antifungal action against M. perniciosa, and the reduction of M. perniciosa survival was related to ROS production in fungal hyphae.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first report of a PR-4 showing simultaneously RNase, DNase and antifungal properties, but no chitinase activity. Moreover, we showed that the antifungal activity of TcPR-4b is directly related to RNase function. In cacao, TcPR-4b nuclease activities may be related to the establishment and maintenance of resistance, and to the PCD mechanism, in resistant and susceptible cacao genotypes, respectively.

Priming of plant resistance by natural compounds. Hexanoic acid as a model

Some alternative control strategies of currently emerging plant diseases are based on the use of resistance inducers. This review highlights the recent advances made in the characterization of natural compounds that induce resistance by a priming mechanism. These include vitamins, chitosans, oligogalacturonides, volatile organic compounds, azelaic and pipecolic acid, among others. Overall, other than providing novel disease control strategies that meet environmental regulations, natural priming agents are valuable tools to help unravel the complex mechanisms underlying the induced resistance (IR) phenomenon. The data presented in this review reflect the novel contributions made from studying these natural plant inducers, with special emphasis placed on hexanoic acid (Hx), proposed herein as a model tool for this research field. Hx is a potent natural priming agent of proven efficiency in a wide range of host plants and pathogens. It can early activate broad-spectrum defenses by inducing callose deposition and the salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) pathways. Later it can prime pathogen-specific responses according to the pathogen's lifestyle. Interestingly, Hx primes redox-related genes to produce an anti-oxidant protective effect, which might be critical for limiting the infection of necrotrophs. Our Hx-IR findings also strongly suggest that it is an attractive tool for the molecular characterization of the plant alarmed state, with the added advantage of it being a natural compound.

Transformation of tobacco and Arabidopsis plants with Stellaria media genes encoding novel hevein-like peptides increases their resistance to fungal pathogens

Two novel antifungal hevein-like peptides, SmAMP1.1a and SmAMP2.2a, were previously isolated from seeds of Stellaria media. It has been established that these peptides accumulate in this weed as a result of proteolysis of two propeptides, pro-SmAMP1 and pro-SmAMP2. The primary structure of these propeptides is unique; in addition to having a signal peptide and negatively charged C-terminus, each of these structures consists of two hevein-like peptides of different length separated by a space rather than a single peptide. In this work, we demonstrated that the expression of the pro-SmAMP1 and pro-SmAMP2 genes was tissue-specific and increased substantially under exposure to fungal infection. To elucidate whether S. media has any advantages in defending against phytopathogens due to its unusual structure of pro-SmAMP1 and pro-SmAMP2, on the basis of the pro-SmAMP1 gene, we created three genetic constructs. Arabidopsis and tobacco plants were subsequently transformed with these constructs. Transgenic plants bearing the full-length pro-SmAMP1 gene exhibited the best resistance to the phytopathogens Bipolaris sorokiniana and Thielaviopsis basicola. The resistance of S. media plants to phytopathogenic fungi was likely due to the fungal-inducible expression of pro-SmAMP1 and pro-SmAMP2 genes, and due to the specific features of the primary structure of the corresponding propeptides. As a result of the processing of these propeptides, two different antimicrobial peptides were released simultaneously. Based on our results, we conclude that the genes for antimicrobial peptides from S. media may be promising genetic tools for the improvement of plant resistance to fungal diseases.

Priming for JA-dependent defenses using hexanoic acid is an effective mechanism to protect Arabidopsis against B. cinerea

Soil drench treatments with hexanoic acid can effectively protect Arabidopsis plants against Botrytis cinerea through a mechanism based on a stronger and faster accumulation of JA-dependent defenses. Plants impaired in ethylene, salicylic acid, abscisic acid or glutathion pathways showed intact protection by hexanoic acid upon B. cinerea infection. Accordingly, no significant changes in the SA marker gene PR-1 in either the SA or ABA hormone balance were observed in the infected and treated plants. In contrast, the JA signaling pathway showed dramatic changes after hexanoic acid treatment, mainly when the pathogen was present. The impaired JA mutants, jin1-2 and jar1, were unable to display hexanoic acid priming against the necrotroph. In addition, hexanoic acid-treated plants infected with B. cinerea showed priming in the expression of the PDF1.2, PR-4 and VSP1 genes implicated in the JA pathways. Moreover, JA and OPDA levels were primed at early stages by hexanoic acid. Treatments also stimulated increased callose accumulation in response to the pathogen. Although callose accumulation has proved an effective IR mechanism against B. cinerea, it is apparently not essential to express hexanoic acid-induced resistance (HxAc-IR) because the mutant pmr4.1 (callose synthesis defective mutant) is protected by treatment. We recently described how hexanoic acid treatments can protect tomato plants against B. cinerea by stimulating ABA-dependent callose deposition and by priming OPDA and JA-Ile production. We clearly demonstrate here that Hx-IR is a dependent plant species, since this acid protects Arabidopsis plants against the same necrotroph by priming JA-dependent defenses without enhancing callose accumulation.

Two chitinase-like proteins abundantly accumulated in latex of mulberry show insecticidal activity

Background

Plant latex is the cytoplasm of highly specialized cells known as laticifers, and is thought to have a critical role in defense against herbivorous insects. Proteins abundantly accumulated in latex might therefore be involved in the defense system.

Results

We purified latex abundant protein a and b (LA-a and LA-b) from mulberry (Morus sp.) and analyzed their properties. LA-a and LA-b have molecular masses of approximately 50 and 46 kDa, respectively, and are abundant in the soluble fraction of latex. Western blotting analysis suggested that they share sequence similarity with each other. The sequences of LA-a and LA-b, as determined by Edman degradation, showed chitin-binding domains of plant chitinases at the N termini. These proteins showed small but significant chitinase and chitosanase activities. Lectin RCA120 indicated that, unlike common plant chitinases, LA-a and LA-b are glycosylated. LA-a and LA-b showed insecticidal activities when fed to larvae of the model insect Drosophila melanogaster.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the two LA proteins have a crucial role in defense against herbivorous insects, possibly by hydrolyzing their chitin.

Grape and wine proteins: their fractionation by hydrophobic interaction chromatography and identification by chromatographic and proteomic analysis

A method to fractionate grape and wine proteins by hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) was developed. This method allowed the isolation of a thaumatin-like protein in a single step with high yield and >90% purity and has potential to purify several other proteins. In addition, by separating HIC fractions by reverse phase HPLC and by collecting the obtained peaks, the grape juice proteins were further separated, by SDS-PAGE, into 24 bands. The bands were subjected to nanoLC-MS/MS analysis, and the results were matched against a database and characterized as various Vitis vinifera proteins. Moreover, either directly or by homology searching, identity or function was attributed to all of the gel bands identified, which mainly consisted of grape chitinases and thaumatin-like proteins but also included vacuolar invertase, PR-4 type proteins, and a lipid transfer protein from grapes.

Identification of genes upregulated by pinewood nematode inoculation in Japanese red pine

Pine wilt disease caused by the pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle, has destroyed huge areas of pine forest in East Asia, including Japan, China and Korea. No protection against PWN has been developed, and the responses of pine trees at the molecular level are unrecorded. We isolated and analyzed upregulated or newly induced genes from PWN-inoculated Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) by using an annealing control primer system and suppression subtractive hybridization. Significant changes occurred in the transcript abundance of genes with functions related to defense, secondary metabolism and transcription, as the disease progressed. Other gene transcripts encoding pathogenesis-related proteins, pinosylvin synthases and metallothioneins were also more abundant in PWN-inoculated trees than in non-inoculated trees. Our report provides fundamental information on the molecular mechanisms controlling the biochemical and physiological responses of Japanese red pine trees to PWN invasion.

Biotechnological potential of antimicrobial peptides from flowers

Flowers represent a relatively unexplored source of antimicrobial peptides of biotechnological potential. This review focuses on flower-derived defense peptide classes with inhibitory activity towards plant pathogens. Small cationic peptides display diverse activities, including inhibition of digestive enzymes and bacterial and/or fungal inhibition. Considerable research is ongoing in this area, with natural crop plant defense potentially improved through the application of transgenic technologies. In this report, comparisons were made of peptide tertiary structures isolated from diverse flower species. A summary is provided of molecular interactions between flower peptides and pathogens, which include the role of membrane proteins and lipids. Research on these peptides is contributing to our understanding of pathogen resistance mechanisms, which will, given the perspectives for plant genetic modification, contribute long term to plant genetic improvement for increased resistance to diverse pathogens.

Physiological roles of plant glycoside hydrolases

The functions of plant glycoside hydrolases and transglycosidases have been studied using different biochemical and molecular genetic approaches. These enzymes are involved in the metabolism of various carbohydrates containing compounds present in the plant tissues. The structural and functional diversity of the carbohydrates implies a vast spectrum of enzymes involved in their metabolism. Complete genome sequence of Arabidopsis and rice has allowed the classification of glycoside hydrolases in different families based on amino acid sequence data. The genomes of these plants contain 29 families of glycoside hydrolases. This review summarizes the current research on plant glycoside hydrolases concerning their principal functional roles, which were attributed to different families. The majority of these plant glycoside hydrolases are involved in cell wall polysaccharide metabolism. Other functions include their participation in the biosynthesis and remodulation of glycans, mobilization of energy, defence, symbiosis, signalling, secondary plant metabolism and metabolism of glycolipids.

Kinetics of drought-induced pathogenesis-related proteins and its physiological significance in white clover leaves

To investigate the responses of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins to the intensity of drought stress and their physiological significance in white clover (Trifolium repens L.), the change of enzyme activity and its relationship with some physiological parameters were assessed for 28 days under well-watered (control) and water-deficit conditions. Water-deficit treatment gradually decreased leaf water potential (Psi(w)) to -2.33 MPa at day 28. Dry matter significantly decreased from 21 days of water-deficit treatment, while proline and ammonia concentration increased within 7 days. The increase in PR-protein activity was closely related with the decrease in Psi(w). The beta-1,3-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.39) activity in water-deficit leaves rapidly increased for the first 14 days (Psi(w) >or= -1.67) and then slightly decreased, while the chitinase (EC 3.2.1.14) and cellulase (EC 3.2.1.4) activity continued to increase throughout the experimental period. The enhanced activation of beta-1,3-glucanase, chitinase and cellulase for the period of days 0-14 was significantly (P <or= 0.01) related to the increase of proline and ammonia concentrations. The results indicate that the enhanced activity of beta-1,3-glucanase, cellulase and chitinase for the early period might be an act of transient tolerance to drought stress, but the activation of these enzymes during terminal stress might be a drought-stress-induced injurious symptom.

Arabidopsis hot2 encodes an endochitinase-like protein that is essential for tolerance to heat, salt and drought stresses

The Arabidopsis hot2 mutant was originally identified based on its lack of thermotolerance, but pleiotropic abnormal phenotypes are also exhibited under normal conditions, including semi-dwarfism, ethylene overproduction and aberrant cell shape with incomplete cell walls. Here we present additional characterization of the hot2 mutant, and the map-based cloning of HOT2. Mutants of hot2 had an aberrant tolerance to salt and drought stresses, and accumulated high levels of Na(+) in cells under either normal or NaCl stress conditions. Expression of the stress-inducible COR15A and KIN1 gene in hot2 mutants in response to increased NaCl concentrations was normal. HOT2 encoded a chitinase-like protein (AtCTL1) that has not previously been shown to be involved in tolerance to salt stress. Ten-day-old seedlings of wild-type plants exhibited constitutive expression of the AtCTL1 transcript, the level of which was unaffected by treatment with NaCl, mannitol or mild heat. These observations provide genetic evidence that a chitinase-like protein prevents the overaccumulation of Na(+) ions, thereby contributing to the salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. A possible role for this chitinase-like protein in Arabidopsis tolerance to abiotic stress is discussed.

Plant-derived antifungal proteins and peptides

Plants produce potent constitutive and induced antifungal compounds to complement the structural barriers to microbial infection. Approximately 250 000 – 500 000 plant species exist, but only a few of these have been investigated for antimicrobial activity. Nevertheless, a wide spectrum of compound classes have been purified and found to have antifungal properties. The commercial potential of effective plant-produced antifungal compounds remains largely unexplored. This review article presents examples of these compounds and discusses their properties.Key words: antifungal, peptides, phytopathogenic, plants, proteins.

A proximal upstream sequence controls tissue-specific expression of Lem2, a salicylate-inducible barley lectin-like gene

The lemma and palea (lemma/palea), which form the husk of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds, constitutively express high levels of defense-related genes, relative to leaves [Abebe et al. (2004) Crop Sci 44:942-950]. One of these genes, Lem2, is expressed mainly in the lemma/palea and coleoptile and is strongly upregulated by salicylic acid (SA) and its functional analog 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid . Induction by SA was rapid, occurring within 4 h of treatment. However, Lem2 is not responsive to methyl jasmonate (MeJA) or wounding and is downregulated by drought, dehydration, and abscisic acid. These results suggest that Lem2 is involved in systemic acquired resistance. Sequence analysis showed that LEM2 is a jacalin-related lectin (JRL)-like protein with two domains. Consistent with northern and western blot data, transient expression analyses using Lem2::gfp constructs showed strong expression in lemmas and a trace expression in leaves. Successive 5' deletions of the 1,414 bp upstream region gradually weakened promoter strength, as measured by real-time PCR. Promoter deletion studies also revealed that the -75/+70 region (containing the TATA box, 5' UTR, and a SA-response element) determines tissue specificity and that the distal promoter region simply enhances expression. Southern analysis indicated that Morex barley has at least three copies of the Lem2 gene arranged in tandem on chromosome 5(1H) Bin 02, near the short arm telomere. Lem2 is not present in the barley cultivars Steptoe, Harrington, Golden Promise, and Q21861.

Expression of Chia4-Pa chitinase genes during somatic and zygotic embryo development in Norway spruce (Picea abies): similarities and differences between gymnosperm and angiosperm class IV chitinases

The developmental pathway of somatic embryogenesis in Norway spruce involves proliferation of proembryogenic masses (PEMs), PEM-to-somatic embryo transition and further development of the somatic embryos. It has previously been shown that extracellular signal molecules, including arabinogalactan proteins, lipo-chitooligosaccharides and chitinases, regulate somatic embryogenesis. The Chia4-Pa1 gene from Norway spruce is described here. The Chia4-Pa1 encodes a typical basic class IV chitinase, although the intron-exon organization of this gymnosperm chitinase is different from that in angiosperm class IV chitinases. The Chia4-Pa1 belongs to a small gene family with highly similar members, and the expression pattern of Chia4-Pa1 cannot be distinguished from that of other Chia4-Pa members. Upon withdrawal of plant growth regulators, i.e. during a treatment that stimulates PEM-to-somatic embryo transition and massive programmed cell death, a significant increase in transcription and translation of Chia4-Pa genes takes place. The expression pattern analysis revealed that Chia4-Pa genes are expressed in a subpopulation of proliferating cells and at the base of the somatic embryo. Furthermore, in seeds, Chia4-Pa genes are expressed in the megagametophyte in the single cell-layered zone surrounding the corrosion cavity. Taken together these results suggest that the Chia4-Pa expressing cells have a megagametophyte signalling function and that CHIA4-Pa stimulates programmed cell death and promotes PEM-to-somatic embryo transition.

Pn-AMPs, the hevein-like proteins from Pharbitis nil confers disease resistance against phytopathogenic fungi in tomato, Lycopersicum esculentum

The antifungal activity of hevein-like proteins has been associated with their chitin-binding activities. Pn-AMP1 and Pn-AMP2, two hevein homologues from Pharbitis nil, show in vitro antifungal activities against both chitin and non-chitin containing fungi. Purified Pn-AMPs retained antifungal activities only under non-reducing conditions. When Pn-AMP2 cDNA was constitutively expressed in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants under the control of CaMV35S promoter, the transgenic plants showed enhanced resistance against both the non-chitinous fungus Phytophthora capsici, and the chitin-containing fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Thus, the chitin component in the fungal cell wall is not an absolute requirement for Pn-AMP's antifungal activities. These results when considered together suggest that Pn-AMPs have the potential for developing transgenic plants resistant to a wide range of phytopathogenic fungi.

Over-expression of a seed specific hevein-like antimicrobial peptide from Pharbitis nil enhances resistance to a fungal pathogen in transgenic tobacco plants

Two hevein-like peptides from the seed of Pharbitis nil, designated Pharbitis nil antimicrobial peptide 1 (Pn-AMP1) and Pn-AMP2, had been purified previously. Both exhibit potent in vitro antifungal activity against a broad spectrum of phytopathogenic fungi. We now report the isolation of two cDNA clones, designated pnAMP-h1 and pnAMP-h2, and the corresponding genomic clones encoding these proteins from mature seeds of P. nil. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence to that of the mature protein suggests that the peptides are produced as a prepropeptide consisting of an N-terminal signal peptide, the mature protein and C-terminal domains. The transcripts of the two genes are accumulated seed--specifically, and the maximum transcripts are observed in the mid-to-late stage of seed development. Constitutive over-expression of the pnAMP-h2 cDNA in transgenic tobacco under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter conferred enhanced resistance against the oomycete Phytophthora parasitica, the causal agent of black shank disease. Thus the Pn-AMPs may play a role in the protection of seeds and may be useful as a novel gene source to engineer plants resistant to fungal pathogens.

Jasmonic acid methyl ester induces the synthesis of a cytoplasmic/nuclear chito-oligosaccharide binding lectin in tobacco leaves

In contrast to animal lectins, no evidence has indicated the occurrence of plant lectins, which recognize and bind "endogenous" receptors and accordingly are involved in recognition mechanisms within the organism itself. Here we show that the plant hormone jasmonic acid methyl ester (JAME) induces in leaves of Nicotiana tabacum (var. Samsun NN) the expression of a lectin that is absent from untreated plants. The lectin specifically binds to oligomers of N-acetylglucosamine and is detected exclusively in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Both the subcellular location and specificity indicate that the Nicotiana tabacum agglutinin (called Nictaba) may be involved in the regulation of gene expression in stressed plants through specific protein-carbohydrate interactions with regulatory cytoplasmic/nuclear glycoproteins. Searches in the databases revealed that many flowering plants contain sequences encoding putative homologues of the tobacco lectin, which suggest that Nictaba is the prototype of a widespread or possibly ubiquitous family of lectins with a specific endogenous role.

Purification and characterization of an ethylene-induced antifungal protein from leaves of guilder rose (Hydrangea macrophylla)

An ethylene-induced, chitin-binding protein (designated as HM30) from leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla was identified and purified to apparent homogeneity by chitin affinity chromatography followed by FPLC on a Superose 12 column. The molecular mass of HM30 was 30,010.0 Da determined by mass spectrometry and its isoelectric point of 8.4 was estimated by isoelectric focusing. The amino acid composition of HM30 was also determined. The initial 15 amino acid residues of the N-terminal were found to be N-S-M-E-R-V-E-E-L-R-K-K-L-Q-D by automatic Edman degradation. This chitin-binding protein showed antifungal activity toward several crop fungal pathogens. Knowledge of properties of HM30 should be useful for its potential application as a plant fungicidal agent.

Primary structure, isoforms, and molecular modeling of a chitin-binding mistletoe lectin

From mistletoe Viscum album L. extracts three chitin-binding lectin isoforms, cbML1, cbML2, and cbML3, were isolated and their primary structure determined. All three cbML isoforms are composed of two protein chains of 48 or 49 amino acid residues, linked by an intermolecular disulfide bond. The sequence of each single cbML chain is characterized by a relatively high number of cysteine and glycine residues, 9 and 6, respectively, and contains four intramolecular disulfide bridges. On the basis of the combined interpretation of sequencing and MALDI MS data, the following results for the three cbML isoforms were obtained: the first one consists of two identical truncated polypeptide chains (1--48), the second is a heterodimer, containing one truncated (1--48) and one full-length chain (1--49), and the third is composed of two full length chains (1--49). The cbML sequence shows 55% identity to hevein, a single-chain chitin-binding protein of 43 amino acids, one of the most predominant proteins in natural rubber latex. On the basis of the NMR data on hevein from Hevea brasiliensis the three-dimensional structure of cbML3 was modelled. The 26 sequence changes between cbML3 and hevein were accommodated with only little perturbation in the main chain folding. A comparison of the primary structures of cbML3 and hevein is shown and the effects of the sequence changes are discussed. Differences have been identified in the loop region of the molecule and the potential interface region of cbML3 supporting the dimer formation. The high-affinity chitin-binding site seems to be highly conserved.

Solution structure of the main alpha-amylase inhibitor from amaranth seeds

The most abundant alpha-amylase inhibitor (AAI) present in the seeds of Amaranthus hypochondriacus, a variety of the Mexican crop plant amaranth, is the smallest polypeptide (32 residues) known to inhibit alpha-amylase activity of insect larvae while leaving that of mammals unaffected. In solution, 1H NMR reveals that AAI isolated from amaranth seeds adopts a major trans (70%) and minor cis (30%) conformation, resulting from slow cis-trans isomerization of the Val15-Pro16 peptide bond. Both solution structures have been determined using 2D 1H-NMR spectroscopy and XPLOR followed by restrained energy refinement in the consistent-valence force field. For the major isomer, a total of 563 distance restraints, including 55 medium-range and 173 long-range ones, were available from the NOESY spectra. This rather large number of constraints from a protein of such a small size results from a compact fold, imposed through three disulfide bridges arranged in a cysteine-knot motif. The structure of the minor cis isomer has also been determined using a smaller constraint set. It reveals a different backbone conformation in the Pro10-Pro20 segment, while preserving the overall global fold. The energy-refined ensemble of the major isomer, consisting of 20 low-energy conformers with an average backbone rmsd of 0.29 +/- 0.19 A and no violations larger than 0.4 A, represents a considerable improvement in precision over a previously reported and independently performed calculation on AAI obtained through solid-phase synthesis, which was determined with only half the number of medium-range and long-range restraints reported here, and featured the trans isomer only. The resulting differences in ensemble precision have been quantified locally and globally, indicating that, for regions of the backbone and a good fraction of the side chains, the conformation is better defined in the new solution structure. Structural comparison of the solution structure with the X-ray structure of the inhibitor when bound to its alpha-amylase target in Tenebrio molitor shows that the backbone conformation is only slightly adjusted on complexation, while that of the side chains involved in protein-protein contacts is similar to those present in solution. Therefore, the overall conformation of AAI appears to be predisposed to binding to its target alpha-amylase, confirming the view that it acts as a lid on top of the alpha-amylase active site.

Plant allergens and pathogenesis-related proteins. What do they have in common?

In the recent past a great number of proteins causing type 1 allergic reactions in humans have been isolated and characterised. The main sources containing allergens are plants, mites, fungal spores and insects. Plant-derived allergens may either be taken in from the upper respiratory tract or they are present in a vast range of plant food causing food allergic reactions. Compared to the enormous amount of different plant proteins only a small number out of them are identified as a an allergen at present. Looking at the allergen encoding sequences, relationships by sequence similarity can be found quite frequently to a restricted number of plant protein families. Predominantly, these protein families are seed storage proteins, structural proteins and proteins involved in the defence-related system - pathogenesis-related proteins. In the following, a short overview of a number of pathogenesis-related protein families is presented in relation to the already known homologous plant allergens.

Molecular and biochemical classification of plant-derived food allergens

Molecular biology and biochemical techniques have significantly advanced the knowledge of allergens derived from plant foods. Surprisingly, many of the known plant food allergens are homologous to pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), proteins that are induced by pathogens, wounding, or certain environmental stresses. PRs have been classified into 14 families. Examples of allergens homologous to PRs include chitinases (PR-3 family) from avocado, banana, and chestnut; antifungal proteins such as the thaumatin-like proteins (PR-5) from cherry and apple; proteins homologous to the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 (PR-10) from vegetables and fruits; and lipid transfer proteins (PR-14) from fruits and cereals. Allergens other than PR homologs can be allotted to other well-known protein families such as inhibitors of alpha-amylases and trypsin from cereal seeds, profilins from fruits and vegetables, seed storage proteins from nuts and mustard seeds, and proteases from fruits. As more clinical data and structural information on allergenic molecules becomes available, we may finally be able to answer what characteristics of a molecule are responsible for its allergenicity.