Three inhibitor types from wheat endosperm are differentially active against α-amylases of Lepidoptera pests

Crude α-amylase preparations from seven Lepidoptera pests were susceptible to inhibition by salt-soluble proteins of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) endosperm. Protein fractions that corresponded to tetrameric, dimeric, and monomeric wheat α-amylase inhibitors, were decreasingly effective against the insect α-amylase activity. To further confirm these results, purified inhibitors were tested against an α-amylase preparation fromEphestia kuehniella (Zeller). This preparation showed decreased activity when increasing amounts of an heterotetrameric inhibitor (reconstituted from its isolated subunits WTAI-CM2, -CM3 and -CM16) were assayed. Activity was only partially inhibited by homodimeric (WDAI-1, synonym 0.53; WDAI-2, synonym 0.19) and monomeric (WMAI-1, synonym 0.28) inhibitors.     

Characterization of an apoplastic basic thaumatin-like protein from recalcitrant chestnut seeds

Mature chestnut seeds, with one of the highest moisture contents described to date, accumulate certain defensive proteins at unusually elevated levels. In this work a major 23-kDa thaumatin-like protein, termed CsTL1, has been purified from mature chestnut ( Castanea sativa ) cotyledons. Amino acid sequencing and characterization of its full-length cDNA indicate that CsTL1 is synthesized as a preprotein with a signal peptide 22 amino acids in length. The mature protein contains 16 conserved cysteine residues presumably involved in disulfide bonding and has a high isoelectric point (ca. 9). Unlike most basic pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, mature CsTL1 is localized to the extracellular matrix, as revealed by immunoelectron microscopy studies of cotyledonary cells. The isolated protein has in vitro antifungal activity against Trichoderma viride and Fusarium oxysporum and shows strong synergistic effects with CsCh1, the most abundant chestnut cotyledon endochitinase. Moreover, both CsTL1 and CsCh1 appear to be regulated in the same manner during seed development and germination. These observations, along with the recent finding of endoglucanase activity for some TL proteins, support the notion that CsTL1 and CsCh1 are part of a complex seed defensive system against microbial growth. Another possibility is that these, and probably other seed PR proteins, have antifreeze activity. Both functions would be particularly relevant for chestnut seeds given their remarkable moisture content at maturity.     

Assessment of haemophilic arthropathy through balance analysis: a promising tool

The purpose of this study was to develop a tool able to distinguish between subjects who have haemophilic arthropathy in lower limbs and those who do not by analyzing the centre of pressure displacement. The second objective was to assess the possible different responses of haemophiliacs and healthy subjects by creating a classifier that could distinguish between both groups. Fifty-four haemophilic patients (28 with and 26 without arthropathy) and 23 healthy subjects took part voluntarily in the study. A force plate was used to measure postural stability. A total of 276 centre of pressure displacement parameters were calculated under different conditions: unipedal/bipedal balance with eyes open/closed. These parameters were used to design a Quadratic Discriminant Analysis classifier. The arthropathy versus non-arthropathy classifier had an overall accuracy of 97.5% when only 10 features were used in its design. Similarly, the haemophiliac versus non-haemophiliac classifier had an overall accuracy of 97.2% when only 7 features were used. In conclusion, an objective haemophilic arthropathy in lower limbs evaluation system was developed by analyzing centre of pressure displacement signals. The haemophiliac vs. non-haemophiliac classifier designed was also able to corroborate the existing differences in postural control between haemophilic patients (with and without arthropathy) and healthy subjects.     

Role of complex asparagine-linked glycans in the allergenicity of plant glycoproteins

Many plant proteins, particularly those found in foods and pollen,are known to act as sensitizing agents in humans upon repeatedexposure. Among the cereal flour proteins involved in asthmaticreactions, those members of the