A novel 8.7 kDa protease inhibitor from chan seeds (Hyptis suaveolens L.) inhibits proteases from the larger grain borer Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae).
A novel trypsin inhibitor purified from chan seeds (Hyptis suaveolens, Lamiaceae) was purified and characterized. Its apparent molecular mass was 8700 Da with an isoelectric point of 3.4. Its N-terminal sequence showed a high content of acidic amino acids (seven out of 18 residues). Its inhibitory activity was potent toward all trypsin-like proteases extracted from the gut of the insect Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), a very important pest of maize. This activity was highly specific, because among proteases from seven different insects, only those from P. truncatus and Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) were inhibited. This inhibitor has potential to enhance the defense mechanism of maize against the attack of P. truncatus.
Aguirre
Cesar
C
Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (Cinvestav) Unidad Irapuato. Km 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36500 Irapuato Gto, Mexico.
Valdés-Rodríguez
Silvia
S
Mendoza-Hernández
Guillermo
G
Rojo-Domínguez
Arturo
A
Blanco-Labra
Alejandro
A
D000818:Animals; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D003313:Zea mays / Q000469:parasitology
D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases