The distribution of serine proteinase inhibitors in seeds of the Asteridae

• Published in: Phytochemistry (Oxford) 2004-11, Vol.65 (22), p.3003-3020
• Main Authors: Konarev, Alexander V., Griffin, Jonathan, Konechnaya, Galina Yu, Shewry, Peter R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; amino acid sequences; Anthriscus sylvestris; Apiaceae; Apiales; Asterales; Asteridae; Chymotrypsin inhibitor; Cornales; Dipsacales; Ericales; Genetic Variation; Gentianales; Lamiales; Magnoliopsida - chemistry; Molecular Sequence Data; plant proteins; Polymorphism, Genetic; proteinase inhibitors; Scrophulariaceae; Seeds; Seeds - chemistry; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors - analysis; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors - chemistry; serine proteinases; Subtilisin inhibitor; tissue distribution; Trypsin inhibitor; Veronica hederifolia
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2004.08.022

Analysis of seeds from 398 species representing 8 orders, 32 families and 181 genera of Asteridae showed two major types of serine proteinase inhibitors. Members of the potato inhibitor I family were widely distributed and inhibitory to subtilisin and one or more other proteinases. The second major group included trypsin inhibitors related to the well-characterised Bowman–Birk inhibitors of legume seeds but these varied widely in their sequences and structure. The Asteridae is one of the most successful clades of flowering plants comprising some 80,000 species. Despite this diversity, analysis of seeds from 398 species (representing 8 orders, 32 families and 181 genera) showed just two major types of serine proteinase inhibitors (PI). PIs of the potato inhibitor I family were widely distributed. These had Mr of 7000–7500 and were inhibitory to subtilisin and one or more other proteinases (but only rarely elastase). The second major group was TI related to the well-characterised Bowman–Birk inhibitors of legume seeds but these varied widely in their sequences and structure. In addition to these two groups of inhibitors, seeds of the Solanaceae also often contained PI of the potato inhibitor II family while some other asterids contained inhibitors whose relationships were not established.