Pr-1, a novel antifungal protein from pumpkin rinds.
A novel antifungal protein, M(r) = ca. 40 kDa, was isolated from pumpkin rind and designated Pr-1. When purified by anion exchange chromatography and HPLC, it inhibited growth of several fungi including Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani and Rhizoctonia solani, as well as the yeast, Candida albicans, at 10-20 microM. It did not inhibit growth of Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus even at 200 microM. Laser scanning microscopy of fungal cells exposed to rhodamine-labeled Pr-1 revealed that the protein accumulated and was localized on the cell surface. Uptake of the vital stain, SYTOX Green, was enhanced when fungal conidia were treated with Pr-1 suggesting that the protein has membrane permeabilization activity. Pr-1 was thermostable at 70 degrees C and did not lyse human red blood cells at 128 microM suggesting that the protein may be useful as an antifungal agent with little, if any human cytotoxicity.
Park
Seong-Cheol
SC
Research Center for Proteineous Materials (RCPM), Chosun University, Kwangju, Korea.
Lee
Jung Ro
JR
Kim
Jin-Young
JY
Hwang
Indeok
I
Nah
Jae-Woon
JW
Cheong
Hyeonsook
H
Park
Yoonkyung
Y
Hahm
Kyung-Soo
KS
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020171:Botrytis / Q000187:drug effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D028464:Cucurbita / Q000737:chemistry*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055550:Protein Stability; D012232:Rhizoctonia / Q000187:drug effects
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010940:Plant Proteins