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Hevein: an antifungal protein from rubber-tree (Hevea brasiliensis) latex

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Abstract

Several chitin-binding proteins were isolated from the “bottom fraction” of Hevea brasiliensis (Müll.) Arg. latex. One of these chitin-binding proteins is hevein, a small monomeric protein which strongly resembles the lectin from stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.). Like the latter, hevein showed strong antifungal activity against several fungi in vitro. The possible involvement of this protein in the defense against invasion by potentially pathogenic fungi is discussed.

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Abbreviations

FPLC:

fast protein liquid chromatography

Mr :

apparent molecular mass

SDS-PAGE:

Sodium dodecyl sulp-hatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

UDA:

Urtica dioica agglutinin

WGA:

Wheat-germ agglutinin

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorium voor Plantenbiochemie, Willem De Croylaan 42, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Jan Van Parijs, Willem F. Broekaert & Willy J. Peumans

  2. Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, 84109-0606, Ann Harbor, MI, USA

    Irwin J. Goldstein

Authors
  1. Jan Van Parijs
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  2. Willem F. Broekaert
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  3. Irwin J. Goldstein
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  4. Willy J. Peumans
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Additional information

This work is supported in part by NIH grant and grants of the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium): W.J.P. is senior research associate, and W.F.B. senior research assistant of this fund. J.V.P. receives a fellowship of the Belgian Instituut tot Aanmoediging van het Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek in Nijverheid en Landbouw.

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Van Parijs, J., Broekaert, W.F., Goldstein, I.J. et al. Hevein: an antifungal protein from rubber-tree (Hevea brasiliensis) latex. Planta 183, 258–264 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00197797

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