title: Antifungal properties of lectin and new chitinases from potato tubers.
abstract: We have purified from potato tubers, the lectin STA devoid of chitinase activity and two chitinases devoid of lectin activity. Both enzymes are 16 kDa glycoproteins, and probably belong to a new family of plant chitinases. The respective antifungal properties of lectin and chitinases were studied by following their effects against early developmental stages of Fusarium oxysporum, a fungal potato pathogen. Here we demonstrate that: (1) lectin does not inhibit mycelial growth but irreversibly inhibits conidia germination and alters the germ tubes; and (2) chitinases block mycelial growth as well as conidia germination and lyse germ tubes.
authors.affiliation: Romanian Academy, Institute of Biochemistry, Bucharest.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gozia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ciopraga
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bentia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lungu
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zamfirescu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tudor
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roseanu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nitu
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D002688:Chitinases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D037102:Lectins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D002688:Chitinases