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Responses of Proteolytic Enzymes in Embryonic Axes of Germinating Bean Seeds under Copper Stress

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Abstract

The changes in protease activities in embryonic axes during the first days of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seed germination were investigated in response to copper stress. Synthetic substrates and specific protease inhibitors have been used to define qualitatively and quantitatively different catalytic classes, particularly endoproteases (EP), carboxypeptidases (CP) and aminopeptidases (AP), then identify which ones were affected in the presence of copper. In fact, a failure in storage proteins mobilization and a disorder of nitrogen supply at enzymatic level occurred in Cu. In fact, Cu inhibited azocaseinolytic activity (ACA) and cysteine-, aspartic-, serine-, and metallo-endopeptidases activities (Cys-EP, Asp-EP, Ser-Ep, and Met-EP, respectively). Besides, Cu affected leucine- and proline-aminopeptidases (LAP and PAP, respectively) and glycine-carboxypeptidases (Gly-CP). The proteolytic responses might also be associated with the decrease in defense capacity in the Cu-treated embryos.

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Abbreviations

DAN:

Dicyclohexylaminenitrite

E-64:

l-trans-epoxysuccinyl-leucylamide-4-guanidino-butane

FW:

Fresh weight

LAP:

Leucine aminopeptidases

Leu-ßNA:

l-leucine-ß-naphthylamide

NEM:

N-ethylmaleimide

PAP:

Proline aminopeptidases

PMSF:

Phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride

Pro-ßNA:

l-proline-ß-naphthylamide

STI:

Soybean trypsin inhibitor

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Acknowledgments

This work was financed by the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (UR/11/ES-32).

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  1. Plant Toxicology and Molecular Biology of Microorganisms, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerta, 7021, Zarzouna, Tunisia

    Inès Karmous, Khadija Jaouani, Ezzedine El Ferjani & Abdelilah Chaoui

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  1. Inès Karmous
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  2. Khadija Jaouani
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  3. Ezzedine El Ferjani
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  4. Abdelilah Chaoui
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Correspondence to Inès Karmous.

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Karmous, I., Jaouani, K., El Ferjani, E. et al. Responses of Proteolytic Enzymes in Embryonic Axes of Germinating Bean Seeds under Copper Stress. Biol Trace Elem Res 160, 108–115 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0020-x

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