Comparative effects of limited tryptic hydrolysis on physicochemical and structural features of seed 11S globulins.

The effect of the limited proteolysis by trypsin on selected seed storage 11S globulins (broad bean and pea legumins, glycinin and helianthinin) was studied by high-sensitive differential scanning calorimetry, fluorescence spectroscopy and analysis of proteolysis kinetics. Different behaviour of glycinin and helianthinin, on one hand, and broad bean and pea legumins, on the other, were observed: in the first group changes in the physicochemical characteristics of the proteins due to their limited proteolysis are more pronounced in comparison with the second one, in relation with the extent of primary structure modifications. The differences observed have been evaluated in relation with the amino acid sequence features of the four 11S globulin studied and agree with the literature data concerning the protein structural changes in the course of the limited proteolysis.

A comparative study of the role of the major proteinases of germinated common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) seeds in the degradation of their storage proteins.

Two types of cysteine proteases, low-specificity enzymes from the papain family and Asn-specific from the legumain family are generally considered to be the major endopeptidases responsible for the degradation of seed storage proteins during early seedling growth. The action of the corresponding enzymes (CPPh1 and LLP, respectively) from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on phaseolin (the common bean storage protein), and on the homologous soybean (Glycine max (L.

Applying the increase in rate constants of cooperative proteolysis to the determination of transition curves of protein denaturation.

The transition curves of soybean glycinin egg lysozyme, bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation under the action of increasing urea concentration were monitored by determination of the increase in rate constants of cooperative enzymatic proteolysis. The results were compared with those obtained using intrinsic fluorescence and the number of accessible tyrosine. It was shown that the determination of the changes of proteolysis rate permits to disclose conformation changes not detected by other methods.

Does an asparaginyl-specific cysteine endopeptidase trigger phaseolin degradation in cotyledons of kidney bean seedlings?

An asparaginyl-specific cysteine endopeptidase which was named 'legumain-like proteinase' (LLP) and has an apparent molecular mass of 38.1 kDa was isolated from cotyledons of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seedlings and partially characterized.

Detection of the isoenzymes of wheat grain proteinase A.

A new method for the purification of wheat cysteine proteinase A which plays a key role in the mobilization of seed storage proteins during germination has been developed. It consists of (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, gel filtration, and both ion-exchange and hydrophobic chromatography. Constancy of the specific activity of chromatographic fractions and their SDS-electrophoretic pattern indicates the homogeneity of the final enzyme preparation.