叶片喷施甲醇对铝胁迫下黑大豆抗氧化酶活性的影响

在营养液水培条件下,分析叶片预喷施5％ (V/V)甲醇对50μmol·L-1的AlCl3胁迫下黑大豆叶和根中H2O2和MDA含量以及抗氧化酶SOD、POD和CAT活性的影响,为进一步研究甲醇及抗氧化酶在响应铝胁迫应答中的调控机制奠定基础.结果显示:(1)在铝胁迫下,随着铝处理浓度的升高根尖吸收的铝越多,且根的生长被抑制越严重.(2)铝胁迫能诱导黑大豆叶和根中可溶性总蛋白、H2O2和MDA含量的增加,POD和CAT活性增强,但SOD活性变化不明显.(3)当叶片喷施5％甲醇预处理后再进行50 μmol·L1 AlCl3胁迫,随着处理时间增加黑大豆叶和根中可溶性总蛋白含量及POD和CAT活性显著增加,而H2O2和MDA含量显著下降,SOD活性变化亦不显著.研究结果表明,在铝胁迫下叶片喷施5％甲醇能够增强黑大豆叶和根中POD和CAT活性,降低H2O2和MDA的积累,这可能是甲醇通过抗氧化酶参与铝胁迫应答的一种重要机制.     

海水胁迫下CoCl2对油菜生长和抗氧化生理指标的影响

以 '高油605'油菜品种为材料,通过室内水培实验考察了不同浓度CoCl2处理对海水胁迫下油菜种子的萌发、幼苗生长及相关生理指标的影响.结果表明:(1)Hoagland+30%海水(CK3)处理的油菜种子萌发和生长受到显著抑制,但添加50~100 μmol·L-1 CoCl2处理的油菜种子发芽率比CK3显著提高31.98%～32.91%,发芽势极显著增加54.17%～59.03%(P＜0.01),鲜重显著增加25.49%～50.98%;而添加150~1 000 μmol·L-1 CoCl2则对油菜遭受海水胁迫的缓解作用减弱,抑制了油菜幼苗的根系生长.(2)CK3幼苗的抗坏血酸和叶绿素含量显著降低;但添加10~100 μmol·L-1 CoCl2处理的抗坏血酸含量比CK3极显著提高1.26～1.87倍,添加30、50和100 μmol·L-1 CoCl2处理的叶绿素含量比CK3显著提高;但200~1 000 μmol·L-1 CoCl2使油菜幼苗抗坏血酸含量显著降低,1 000 μmol·L-1 CoCl2使幼苗叶绿素含量显著下降.(3)10 μmol·L-1 CoCl2处理幼苗的POD和SOD活性分别比对照显著增加60.2%和18.19%,APX活性却降低6.20%;10~70 μmol·L-1 CoCl2使油菜幼苗POD活性降低,SOD和APX活性增加,MDA含量降低,显著缓解了海水胁迫压力;而100~1 000 μmol·L-1 CoCl2使POD先升后降,SOD和APX活性降低,MDA含量增加.研究发现,适宜浓度CoCl2能够显著提高海水胁迫下油菜幼苗的抗氧化酶活性,增强其清除活性氧能力,降低膜质过氧化作用,从而有效缓解海水胁迫伤害,诱导增强其耐盐性,促进幼苗生长;10~100 μmol·L-1 CoCl2对30%海水胁迫的缓解效果最好,更高浓度的CoCl2反而对油菜幼苗产生毒害作用.     

外源H2O2对水稻幼苗抗寒性的调节作用

在常温下用不同浓度的外源H2O2(0～20 mmol·L-1)预处理水稻幼苗,再进行12 h 6℃低温胁迫,根据幼苗相对含水量和质膜相对透性筛选最佳外源H2O2处理浓度,并分析最佳外源H2O2浓度下幼苗的渗透调节物质和活性氧相关指标的变化.结果表明:(1)0～8 mmol·L-1 H2O2预处理可以增加水稻幼苗的相对含水量,降低其质膜相对透性,并以4 mmol·L-1 H2O2的效果最佳.(2)低温胁迫后,与对照组相比,4 mmol·L-1外源H2O2预处理降低了水稻幼苗萎蔫程度,并使其总呼吸速率、交替途径容量都有增加,同时还抑制了丙二醛的含量,增加了可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸的含量.(3)外源H2O2预处理对水稻幼苗的内源H2O2含量以及O(-)/(·)2产生速率没有显著影响.研究发现,外源H2O2可以通过提高呼吸速率、降低脂质过氧化程度、增加碳氮代谢来有效增强水稻幼苗的抗寒性,它可能以一种独立于内源活性氧系统之外的方式发挥作用.     

外源IAA增强丹波黑大豆抗铝性的生理机制

以铝耐受型丹波黑大豆(RB)幼苗为供试材料,考察了不同浓度铝胁迫下添加外源IAA对RB根尖内源IAA、H2O2、MDA、铝含量、柠檬酸分泌量以及质膜H+-ATPase活性的影响,探讨外源IAA增强RB抗铝能力的生理机制。结果显示:(1)经25、50和200μmol·L-1 AlCl3胁迫处理24h后,RB根尖IAA含量、柠檬酸分泌量和质膜H+-ATPase活性均表现为先上升后下降的趋势,而H2O2、MDA和根尖铝含量却随着铝处理浓度的增加呈显著上升趋势。(2)与单独25、50和200μmol·L-1 AlCl3胁迫处理相比,添加50μmol·L-1外源IAA后使得RB根尖铝、MDA和H2O2含量均显著降低,同时使RB根尖柠檬酸分泌量分别相应增加到单独处理的2.39、1.73和6.85倍,且其相应的质膜H+-ATPase活性也增加了1.09、1.74和1.45倍。研究表明,外源IAA能通过增强丹波黑大豆根尖柠檬酸的分泌量和质膜H+-ATPase活性来提高其对铝胁迫的抗性,明显缓解铝毒害作用。     

外源一氧化氮和过氧化氢调节菊苣盐适应性

研究外源性一氧化氮(NO)供体硝普钠(SNP,0.1 mmol·L-1)和过氧化氢(H2O2,0.5 mmol·L-1)对NaCl(210 mmol·L-1)胁迫下菊苣(Cichorium intybus)幼苗生长、抗氧化酶活性和逆境蛋白的影响。结果表明:与空白对照相比,盐胁迫导致菊苣幼苗的根长和鲜重显著降低;丙二醛(MDA)含量显著升高(P0.05);超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性减弱,而过氧化物酶(POD)活性增强;热激蛋白90(HSP 90)和脱水蛋白(CiDHN1)mRNA的相对表达量增加,CiDHN1含量在2~48 h内持续升高。与盐胁迫对照相比,SNP预处理缓解了盐胁迫对菊苣幼苗生长的抑制;使幼苗MDA含量显著下降;SOD、POD和CAT活性显著增强(P0.05),SOD和POD同工酶谱带增多;并使HSP90和CiDHN1mRNA的相对表达量和蛋白含量均进一步增加;H2O2预处理也具有类似的效应。这说明SNP和H2O2预处理对菊苣幼苗盐胁迫的缓解效应与其上调抗氧化酶的活性和逆境蛋白的表达有关。     

不同浓度Al3+胁迫对水稻根生长的影响

铝毒害是酸性土壤限制农作物产量的主要因素之一。本文以水稻为材料,探讨了不同浓度的AlCl3(0、50、100、150 mmol.L-1)胁迫处理对水稻幼苗根生长的影响。结果表明,随着Al3+浓度和胁迫时间的增加,水稻幼苗根的生长受到抑制,长度和鲜重都减小,根尖细胞死亡的程度增大,根中H2O2含量上升;与对照(未经DMTU预处理)相比,经dimethylthiourea(内源过氧化氢抑制剂)预处理的水稻幼苗在Al3+胁迫下根细胞死亡程度减小,H2O2含量降低,根的生长抑制得到缓解,表明内源H2O2的积累是造成Al3+对水稻幼苗根生长抑制的原因之一。     

燕麦幼苗对盐胁迫的响应及过氧化氢对响应的调节

为了探讨‘定莜6号’燕麦对盐胁迫的生理生化响应及H2O2的调节作用,采用水培方法,研究外源H2O2对盐胁迫下燕麦活性氧代谢、渗透溶质积累和Na+、K+平衡的影响。结果表明:小于100 mmol·L-1Na Cl未对‘定莜6号’幼苗的生长造成明显影响,150 mmol·L-1及以上浓度Na Cl使幼苗干重和叶片K+/Na+显著降低,O2-·产生速率、H2O2、丙二醛(MDA)、可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸含量及过氧化氢酶(CAT)、质膜H+-ATP酶活性明显提高,但抗坏血酸(ASA)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量变化不大;外施5μmol·L-1H2O2可显著缓解150 mmol·L-1Na Cl胁迫对燕麦幼苗生长的抑制作用,使燕麦叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)和CAT活性及H2O2、GSH含量明显提高,O2-·产生速率和MDA含量显著降低;5μmol·L-1H2O2还提高了150 mmol·L-1Na Cl胁迫下燕麦叶片可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖、有机酸和脯氨酸含量及质膜H+-ATP酶活性和K+/Na+,降低了游离氨基酸含量;表明外源H2O2可调控燕麦幼苗活性氧代谢和渗透溶质积累,维持K+、Na+平衡,从而增强耐盐性。     

水杨酸诱导的玉米幼苗适应高温和低温胁迫的能力与抗氧化酶系统的关系

玉米种子经水杨酸(SA)预处理后其幼苗的耐热性与耐冷性提高.其中以300μmol·L-1SA预处理的玉米幼苗对46℃高温胁迫2 d的耐热性提高最大,150μmol·L-1SA预处理的玉米幼苗对1℃低温胁迫5 d的耐冷性提高最大.在高温和低温胁迫过程中,SA预处理过的玉米幼苗中过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、过氧化物酶(GPX)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)的活性水平均高于未经SA处理的.     

Cu和丹皮酚磺酸钠处理对凤丹根系生长、丹皮酚含量及H+-ATPase活性的影响

采用水培法,研究了Cu单一处理及Cu与EGTA和丹皮酚磺酸钠(SPS)复合处理对凤丹(Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Feng Dan’)幼苗根长、根系中Cu和丹皮酚含量的影响,并研究了Cu和SPS单一及复合处理对幼苗根系离体质膜和液泡膜微囊H+-ATPase活性的影响.结果显示:经5μmol·L-1Cu处理后凤丹幼苗根长和丹皮酚含量均略高于对照但总体上差异不显著;经10、20和30 μmol·L-1 Cu处理后,幼苗根长和丹皮酚含量总体上均低于对照,且随Cu浓度增加和处理时间延长,降幅增大.与10 μmol·L-1Cu单一处理相比,10 μmol·L-1Cu- 10μmol·L-1EGTA和10 μmo1.L-1Cu-10 μmol·L-1 SPS复合处理均可以使根系中Cu含量显著降低、丹皮酚含量显著提高;其中,10μmol·L-1Cu-10 μmol·L-1EGTA处理组幼苗根系中Cu含量的降低幅度最大,而10 μmol·L-1 Cu-10 μmol·L-1SPS处理组幼苗根系中丹皮酚含量的增加幅度最大且显著高于对照.与对照相比,经5、10和20μmol · L-1 Cu单一处理后丹凤根系离体质膜和液泡膜微囊H+-ATPase活性均降低,且随Cu浓度提高降低幅度增大;而经0.1、0.2、0.5和1.0μmol·L-1SPS单一处理总体上可使膜微囊H+-ATPase活性逐渐增加;与10 μmol·L-1Cu单一处理相比,10 μmol·L-1Cu与0.1、0.2和0.5 μmol·L-1SPS复合处理均可使膜微囊H+- ATPase活性提高,且H+-ATPase活性均呈现随SPS浓度提高逐渐增加的趋势.研究结果揭示:较高浓度Cu胁迫对凤丹幼苗根系生长及丹皮酚合成以及质膜和液泡膜微囊H+-ATPase活性均有明显抑制作用,但添加外源丹皮酚磺酸钠对Cu胁迫伤害具有一定的缓解效应.     

4个二价金属氯化盐对玉米幼苗生理指标影响的比较研究

比较研究了4个二价金属的氯化盐(CaCl2、MgCl2、CdCl2和CuCl2)对玉米幼苗生长和生理特性的影响.用10 μmol·L-1 CdCl2和CuCl2处理10 d明显减少玉米幼苗根系和地上部干物重,抑制根系伸长生长.同时,叶绿素含量、叶绿素a/b比值、Fv/Fm、F0、Fm、qP、qN和Yield(实际量子产额)都呈明显下降;而抗氧化系统酶(SOD、CAT、POD、GR和APX)活性明显上升.10 μmol·L-1 CdCl2处理下叶绿素含量、Fv/Fm、qP、Yield、还原型GSH含量以及抗氧化酶活性均高于10 μmol·L-1 CuCl2处理.10 μmol·L-1 CdCl2处理还明显降低叶片水势和蒸腾速率,增加叶片气孔阻力,表现出水分胁迫;而10 μmol·L-1 CuCl2处理对叶片水势和蒸腾速率没有显著影响.10 μmol·L-1 CaCl2处理显著增加叶绿素含量和根系净伸长,10 μmol·L-1 MgCl2也增加根系净伸长,但10 μmol·L-1 CaCl2和MgCl2处理对叶绿素荧光参数、水分和抗氧化系统等指标均无明显影响.     

μ- and μ4-η coordination of A2H2 (A = C, Si, Ge, Sn and Pb) ligands with transition metals

The heavier analogs of C₂H₂ have been studied at the B3LYP level for their μ and μ₄-η² coordination properties with the transition metals. Based on known alkyne compounds, transition metal fragments [W₂(μ-NH)(Cp)₂(Cl)₂] and [Fe₄(CO)₁₂] have been chosen. The SBKJC relativistic effective core potentials and their associated basis sets were used on W, Fe, Sn and Pb, and the 6-31G(d) basis set was used on all other elements. All the complexes of Si₂H₂, Ge₂H₂, Sn₂H₂ and Pb₂H₂ are found to be local minima. The trans-twist nature of the ligand A₂H₂ (A = Si-Pb) is large in μ-coordinated complexes of W, and it is very small in μ₄-η² coordinated complexes of Fe. The electronic structure of these complexes was investigated using fragment molecular orbital method (FMO).     

Antibacterial properties of recombinant human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A2

Human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A₂ (hnpsPLA₂) is a group IIA phospholipase A₂ which plays an important role in the innate immune response. This enzyme was found to exhibit bactericidal activity toward Gram-positive bacteria, but not Gram-negative ones. Though native hnpsPLA₂ is active over a broad pH range, it is only highly active at alkaline conditions with the optimum activity pH of about 8.5. In order to make it highly active at neutral pH, we have obtained two hnpsPLA₂ mutants, Glu89Lys and Arg100Glu that work better at neutral pH in a previous study. In the present study, we tested the bactericidal effects of the native hnpsPLA₂ and the two mutants. Both native hnpsPLA₂ and the two mutants exhibit bactericidal activity toward Gram-positive bacteria. Furthermore, they can also kill Escherichia coli, a Gram-negative bacterium. The two mutants showed better bactericidal activity for E. coli at neutral pH than the native enzyme, which is consistent with the enzyme activities. As hnpsPLA₂ is highly stable and biocompatible, it may provide a promising therapy for bacteria infection treatment or other bactericidal applications.     

Effect of Some Environmental Pollutants on the Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Lemna

Exposure of Lemma sp. to SO₂ resulted in an increased activity of superoxide dismutase. About 3 to 4 fold increase in the activity was observed within 30 minutes after the plants were fumigated with 10 ml/l of SO₂. Paraquat, a well known superoxide generator, doubled the enzyme activity after 1 hour of treatment with 0.1 mM paraquat. Superoxide dismutase activity was also enhanced by cadmium treatment but the response was not immediate. Optimum increase in the activity of enzyme was observed after 4 days of treatment with 40 mg/l of cadmium in the medium. Treatment with H₂O₂ very clearly inhibited the activity of superoxide dismutase in Lemna.     

Verification of the Z-scheme in Chlamydomonas mutants with Photosystem I deficiency

In conflict with the Z-scheme of photosynthesis, it has recently been reported [Greenbaum et al. Nature (1995) 376: 438–441; Lee et al. Science (1996) 273: 364–367] that Photosystem II can drive ferredoxin reduction and photoautotrophic growth in some mutants of Chlamydomonas lacking detectable Photosystem I reaction centre, P700. Using the same mutants, B4 and F8, here we report that action spectra and parameters of flash yields of different photoreactions show the operation in ferredoxin-dependent H₂ photoproduction and CO₂ fixation of a fraction (at least 5% compared to wild- type) of the only Photosystem I complexes.     

Interactions between carbon dioxide and oxygen in the photosynthesis of three species of marine red macroalgae

Summary

Red algae have the highest known selectivity factor (S_rel) for CO₂ over O₂ of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (RUBISCO). This allows the prediction that a red alga relying on diffusive supply of CO₂ to RUBISCO from air-equilibrated solution should have less O₂ inhibition of photosynthesis than would an otherwise similar non-red alga with a lower S_rel of RUBISCO. Furthermore, RUBISCO shows an increased S_rel values at low temperatures. The prediction that O ₂inhibition of photosynthesis should be small for marine red algae relying on diffusive CO₂ entry growing in the North Sea with an annual temperature range of 4–16°C was tested in O₂ electrode experiments at 12°C. Phycodrys rubens and Plocamium cartilagineum, which rely on diffusive CO₂ entry showed, as predicted, only a small inhibition at lower inorganic C concentrations. Palmaria palmata, which has a CO₂ concentrating mechanism, had the expected negligible O ₂ inhibition of photosynthesis at any inorganic C concentration except (non-significantly) for saturating inorganic C.     

A sensitive,simultaneous analysis of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase efficiencies: Graphical determination of the CO2/O2 specificity factor

A simple approach to determine CO₂/O₂ specificity factor () of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase is described. The assay measures the amount of CO₂ fixation at varying [CO₂]/[O₂] ratios after complete consumption of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP). Carbon dioxide fixation catalyzed by the carboxylase was monitored by directly measuring the moles of ¹⁴CO₂ incorporated into 3-phosphoglycerate (PGA). This measurement at different [CO₂]/[O₂] ratios is used to determine graphically by several different linear plots the total RuBP consumed by the two activities and the CO₂/O₂ specificity factor. The assay can be used to measure the amounts of products of the carboxylase and oxygenase reactions and to determine the concentration of the substrate RuBP converted to an endpoint amount of PGA and phosphoglycolate. The assay was found to be suitable for all [CO₂]/[O₂] ratios examined, ranging from 14 to 215 micromolar CO₂ (provided as 1–16 mM NaHCO₃) and 614 micromolar O₂ provided as 50% O₂. The procedure described is extremely rapid and sensitive. Specificity factors for enzymes of highly divergent values are in good agreement with previously published data.Abbreviations HEPPS N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N-(3-propanesulfonic acid) - L large subunit of rubisco - PGA 3-phosphoglyceric acid - rubisco ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - RuBP d-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate - S small subunit of rubisco - XuBP d-xylulose 1,5-bisphosphate     

Compensation concentration as critical variable for regulating the flux of trace gases between soil and atmosphere

The flux of a trace gas between soil and atmosphere is usually the result of simultaneously operating production and consumption processes. The compensation concentration is the concentration at which the rate of production equals the rate of consumption so that the net flux between soil and atmosphere is zero. Production and uptake may be due to different processes, which are at least partially known for some of the trace gases, and which may be differently regulated. The direction and the magnitude of the flux between soil and atmosphere is a function of both the compensation concentration and the trace gas concentration in the ambient atmosphere. Compensation and/or ambient concentrations may fluctuate and thus may have a strong impact on the flux of CO, NO and NO₂, and to a smaller extent also on that of H₂. Compensation concentrations also exist for N₂O and OCS, but are too high to affect the flux under field conditions. Compensation concentrations have so far not been demonstrated for the flux of CH₄. However, the uptake of CH₄ by soil exhibits a threshold concentration below which no uptake occurs.Article invited in celebration of tenth anniversary ofBiogeochemistry.     

Competitive inhibition of hydrogen peroxide-induced aggregation of calf platelets by prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 receptor ligands

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced aggregation of calf platelets and its modification by agents with specific properties were characterized employing a spectrophotometric assay. An Arrhenius activation energy of 20 ± 1 kcal/mol was found in the temperature range of 25‡-36‡C. Rate inhibition occurred on either side of this temperature range, and under anaerobic conditions. Exogenous Ca²⁺ ions were not required but Ca²⁺ ions, at 1 mM-concentration, optimally increased rates and extent of aggregation at suboptimal H₂O₂ concentrations but only extent of aggregation at optimal H₂O₂ concentrations. Ba²⁺, Sr²⁺, Cd²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions (1 mM) and Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions (10 mM) were inhibitory. The cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10-30 mM) exerted only mild inhibition by a competitive mechanism. Another cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, aspirin, functioned to increase aggregation. Ligands acting directly at the prostaglandin H₂/thromboxane A, receptor (5Z. 9, 11, 13E, 15(S) 15-hydroxy 9(11) epoxy methano prosta 5, 13-dien-1-oic acid, pinane thromboxane A₂, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and N-ethylmaleimide) functioned as competitive inhibitors. Another platelet-activating sulphydryl reagent, thimerosal, also inhibited competitively while the protein kinase C inhibitor, sphingosine, and the protein kinase C modulator, Zn²⁺ ions, inhibited by different mechanisms. The results indicate direct action of H₂O₂ at the prostaglandin H₂/thromboxane A₂ receptor, possibly its sulphydryls, to activate the protein kinase C pathway, independently of cyclo-oxygenase products. The results underscored the power of the kinetic approach for investigating mechanisms of platelet activation.     

Influence of cis-[Re2GABA2Cl4]Cl2 on the antioxidant defense system parameters of normal human blood

The effect of the rhenium complex cis-[Re₂GABA₂Cl₄]Cl₂ on the antioxidant parameters of normal human blood in vitro have been studied. The results suggest that the complex influences various enzymes in the cascade of reactions utilizing active oxygen metabolites. However, the manifestation of this activity varies over the studied concentration range of the complex in the preincubation medium (10^–12-10^–4 M), so the effects appear to be concentration-dependent. The largest differences in antioxidant parameters in comparison with control were observed for the concentrations 10^–8, 10^–5, and 10^–4 M. Thus, correlations between the peroxidation level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, antioxidant factor (F), and indexes of resistance of erythrocytes for hemolysis (TR) were found.     

Insights on the structure of native CNF,an endogenous phospholipase A2 inhibitor from Crotalus durissus terrificus, the South American rattlesnake

Several snake species possess endogenous phospholipase A₂ inhibitors (sbPLIs) in their blood plasma, the primary role of which is protection against an eventual presence of toxic phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) from their venom glands in the circulation. These inhibitors have an oligomeric structure of, at least, three subunits and have been categorized into three classes (α, β and γ) based on their structural features. SbγPLIs have been further subdivided into two subclasses according to their hetero or homomeric nature, respectively. Despite the considerable number of sbγPLIs described, their structures and mechanisms of action are still not fully understood. In the present study, we focused on the native structure of CNF, a homomeric sbγPLI from Crotalus durissus terrificus, the South American rattlesnake. Based on the results of different biochemical and biophysical experiments, we concluded that, while the native inhibitor occurs as a mixture of oligomers, tetrameric arrangement appears to be the predominant quaternary structure. The inhibitory activity of CNF is most likely associated with this oligomeric conformation. In addition, we suggest that the CNF tetramer has a spherical shape and that tyrosinyl residues could play an important role in the oligomerization. The carbohydrate moiety, which is present in most sbγPLIs, is not essential for the inhibitory activity, oligomerization or complex formation of the CNF with the target PLA₂. A minor component, comprising no more than 16% of the sample, was identified in the CNF preparations. The amino-terminal sequence of that component is similar to the B subunits of the heteromeric sbγPLIs; however, the role played by such molecule in the functionality of the CNF, if any, remains to be determined.