title: Localization, accumulation, and antifungal activity of chitinases in rye (Secale cereale) seed.
abstract: In order to understand a physiological role of chitinases in rye, the localization and accumulation of rye seed chitinase-a and -c (RSC-a and -c) in the seeds were studied by immunochemical methods. An antiserum specific to the chitin-binding domain (CB-domain), which is an N-terminal part of RSC-a, and an antiserum specific to the catalytic region of RSC-a and RSC-c were used. An immunoblot analysis detected both RSC-a and RSC-c in the endosperm of the rye seed. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that RSC-a was localized in only the aleurone cells, whereas RSC-c existed at least in the starchy endosperm and was also likely to exist in the aleurone cells. It was found by ELISA and an immunoblot analysis that RSC-a and -c accumulated in the seed during the later stage of development. Both chitinases and the Cat-domain exhibited antifungal activity toward Trichoderma species, while the CB-domain did not. Observation of the inhibition of hyphal growth of the T. species suggests that the two chitinases acted in different ways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ryukyu University, Okinawa, Japan. tokey@agr.u-ryukyu.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taira
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamagami
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishihara
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002688:Chitinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007106:Immune Sera; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012434:Secale / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007106:Immune Sera; D002688:Chitinases