title: Analysis of two novel classes of plant antifungal proteins from radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seeds.
abstract: Two novel classes of antifungal proteins were isolated from radish seeds. The first class consists of two homologous proteins (Rs-AFP1 and Rs-AFP2) that were purified to homogeneity. They are highly basic oligomeric proteins composed of small (5-kDa) polypeptides that are rich in cysteine. Both Rs-AFPs have a broad antifungal spectrum and are among the most potent antifungal proteins hitherto characterized. In comparison with many other plant antifungal proteins, the activity of the Rs-AFPs is less sensitive to the presence of cations. Moreover, their antibiotic activity shows a high degree of specificity to filamentous fungi. The amino-terminal regions of the Rs-AFPs show homology with the derived amino acid sequences of two pea genes specifically induced upon fungal attack, to gamma-thionins and to sorghum alpha-amylase inhibitors. The radish 2S storage albumins were identified as the second novel class of antifungal proteins. All isoforms inhibit growth of different plant pathogenic fungi and some bacteria. However, their antimicrobial activities are strongly antagonized by cations.
authors.affiliation: F. A. Janssens Laboratory of Genetics, Catholic University of Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Terras
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Schoofs
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: De Bolle
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Leuven
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vanderleyden
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Cammue
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Broekaert
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010940:Plant Proteins