The bean. alpha. -amylase inhibitor is encoded by a lectin gene

Journal Article · Fri Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1989 · Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA)

OSTI ID:6994782

Moreno, J; Altabella, T; Chrispeels, M J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, San Diego, La Jolla (USA)

The common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, contains an inhibitor of insect and mammalian {alpha}-amylases that does not inhibit plant {alpha}-amylase. This inhibitor functions as an anti-feedant or seed-defense protein. We purified this inhibitor by affinity chromatography and found that it consists of a series of glycoforms of two polypeptides (Mr 14,000-19,000). Partial amino acid sequencing was carried out, and the sequences obtained are identical with portions of the derived amino acid sequence of a lectin-like gene. This lectin gene encodes a polypeptide of MW 28,000, and the primary in vitro translation product identified by antibodies to the {alpha}-amylase inhibitor has the same size. Co- and posttranslational processing of this polypeptide results in glycosylated polypeptides of 14-19 kDa. Our interpretation of these results is that the bean lectins constitute a gene family that encodes diverse plant defense proteins, including phytohemagglutinin, arcelin and {alpha}-amylase inhibitor.

• OSTI ID: 6994782
• Journal Information: Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA), Journal Name: Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA) Vol. 89:4; ISSN PPYSA; ISSN 0079-2241
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMINO ACID SEQUENCE
AMYLASE
ENZYME INHIBITORS
ENZYMES
GENES
GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
HYDROLASES
LECTINS
LEGUMINOSAE
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
O-GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDES
PHASEOLUS
PLANTS
POLYPEPTIDES
POST-TRANSLATION MODIFICATION
PROTEINS