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Various forms of participation of proteolytic enzymes in pathogenesis and defense in plants are reviewed. Along with extracellular proteinases, phytopathogenic microorganisms produce specific effectors having proteolytic activity and capable of acting on proteins inside plant cells. In turn, for defense against pathogens, plants use both extracellular and intracellular proteinases.

The dependence of the activity of trypsin immobilized in polyacrylamide hydrogel on the hydrogel swelling ratio, the size distribution of its pores, and the means of enzyme binding has been studied. It has been shown that the most favorable conditions for immobilized trypsin are provided upon its binding to hydrogel via trypsin macromonomer copolymerization with acrylamide and a linking agent in the presence of a modifier that limits polymer chain growth.

A method has been developed for producing a biospecific hydrogel hemosorbent by the radical copolymerization of an unsaturated derivative of ovomucoid from duck egg white with acrylamide and N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide in an aqueous solution in the presence of mercaptoacetic acid serving as a chain transfer agent. The use of a chain transfer agent has been shown to result in changes in the structure of the hydrogel formed, namely, an increase in the degree of swelling in aqueous solutions and a decrease in the number of large pores. This creates favorable conditions for the functioning of immobilized ovomucoid and allows for an increase in the serine proteinase absorption capacity of the hemosorbent.

Serine proteinases from three phytopathogenic microorganisms that belong to different fungal families and cause diseases in potatoes were studied and characterized. The oomycete Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary and the fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium culmorum were shown to secrete serine proteinases. An analysis of the substrate specificity of these enzymes and their sensitivity to synthetic and protein inhibitors allowed us to refer them to trypsin- and subtilisin-like proteinases. The correlation between the trypsin- and subtilisin-like proteinases depended on the composition of the culture medium, particularly on the form of the nitrogen source. A phylogenetic analysis was carried out. In contrast to basidiomycetes R. solani, ascomycetes F. culmorum and oomycetes P. infestans produced a similar set of exoproteinases, although they had more distant phylogenetic positions. This indicated that the secretion of serine proteinases by various phytopathogenic microorganisms also depended on their phylogenetic position. These results allowed us to suggest that exoproteinases from phytopathogenic fungi play a different role in pathogenesis. They may promote the adaptation of fungi if the range of hosts is enlarged. On the other hand, they may play an important role in the survival of microorganisms in hostile environements outside their hosts.

The thromboresistance of glucose-sensitive polymer hydrogels, modeling one of the functions of the pancreas, namely, the ability to secrete insulin in response to the introduction of glucose into the environment, has been studied. Hydrogels were synthesized by the copolymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate with N-acryloyl glucosamine in the presence of a cross-linking agent and subsequently treated with concanavalin A. Introduction of glucose residues into the hydrogel did not result in significant changes in either the number of trombocytes adhered to the hydrogel or the degree of denaturation of blood plasma proteins interacting with the hydrogel. Consequently, the biological activity of insulin did not change after release from the hydrogel. The use of glucose-sensitive hydrogels is supposed to contribute to the development of a novel strategy for the treatment of diabetes.

The potato tubers contain proteins that inhibit serine proteinases and belong to subfamily of potato Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors (PKPI). New highly purified protein had been isolated from mature potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Zukov's Jubilee). The protein is а single polypeptide chain of molecular, weighing 23 kDa. The 20 N-terminal amino acid residues of the protein were determined by automatic Edman procedure. On the basis of N-terminal sequence structure and the molecular mass it is indicated that the inhibitor is a potato Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor that belongs to group B. It was denoted as PKCI (potato Kunitz-type chymotrypsin inhibitor). The PKCI was able to inhibit chymotrypsin and trypsin with the same degree of effectiveness. It formed equimolar complexes with both enzymes. The protein PKCI is a double-headed proteinase inhibitor and is able to bind simultaneously two molecules of different enzymes. The probable cDNA of the inhibitor, denoted as PKPIJ-B consists of a 579-bp open reading frame, encodes protein out of 193-amino acids with a signal peptide (10 residues), indicating that this protein is synthesized as a preprotein. Deduced amino acid sequence of the cDNA is aligned with the respective sequences of already known PKPI, belonging to group B., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Data on the role of proteolytic enzyme inhibitors in plant adaptation to various unfavorable environmental abiotic factors--water deficiency, salinization of soil, extreme temperatures, etc.--and also probable functions of proteinases inhibitors in natural plant senescense are considered.

Product of polymerase chain reaction designated as PKPIJ-B was isolated after amplification from genomic DNA of potato (Solarium tuberosum L., Zhukov Jubilee cultivar) using the designed primers. Nucleotide sequence of PKPIJ-B was determined and amino acid sequence of protein was restored. Analysis of this sequence has allowed us to suggest that isolated gene fragment encodes chymotrypsin and trypsin inhibitor protein (PKCI-23 potato Kunitz-type chymotrypsin inhibitor) of potato tubers.

Potato Kunitz-type chymotrypsin inhibitor (PKCI-23) was isolated from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L., Zhukov's Jubilee breed) and purified to a homogenous state. The protein was purified by gel-filtration chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography using Sephadex G-75 and CM-Sepharose CL-6B, respectively. PKCI-23 protein has been shown to inhibit both chymotrypsin and trypsin with equal efficacy, forming equimolar complexes with these enzymes. However, much weaker inhibitory effect of PKCI-23 has been observed for Carlsberg subtilisin. The N-terminal 20 amino acid sequence of PKCI-23 has been sequenced. PKCI-23 has been shown to suppress, with different efficacy, the growth and development of pathogenic microorganisms Fusarium culmorum (Wm. G. Sm.) Sacc. and Phytophtora infestans (Mont.) de Bary that infect potato.

Proteinases secreted by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, Rhizoctonia solani, and Fusarium culmorum belonging to different families of fungi have been studied to determine if the exoenzyme secretion depends on the environmental conditions and the phylogenetic position of the pathogen. The substrate specificity of the extracellular proteinases of F. culmorum, R. solani, and P. infestans and their sensitivity to the action of synthetic and protein inhibitors suggest that they contain trypsin-like and subtilisin-like enzymes regardless of culture medium composition. The relation of trypsin-like and subtilisin-like enzymes is dependent on the culture medium composition, especially on the form of nitrogen nutrition, particularly in the case of the exoenzymes secreted by R. solani. Phylogenetic analyses have shown that the exoproteinase set of ascomycetes and oomycetes has more similarities than basidiomycetes although they are more distant relatives. Our data suggests that the multiple proteinases secreted by pathogenic fungi could play different roles in pathogenesis, increasing the adaptability and host range, or could have different functions in survival in various ecological habitats outside the host.

The modification of proteinase inhibitor ovomucoid from duck eggs white by poly-N,N-diethylacrylamide having a low critical solution temperature (LCST) have been studied. Modification of free amino groups of lysine and N-terminal residue of ovomucoid is resulted in a significant decrease in the activity of the inhibitor toward trypsin and small decrease in the activity toward α-chymotrypsin. At heating of the solution of modified ovomucoid above the LCST transformation of the antitryptic centers of ovomucoid in antichymotryptic centers was observed. It was shown that this phenomenon is due to the hydrophobization the lysine residues localized in the reactive centers of the inhibitor while maintaining the structure of the "linkage loops". Therefore the α-chymotrypsine molecules began to interact with these residues, mistaking them for the residues of hydrophobic amino acids of antichymotryptic centers.

It was shown that change of medium growth composition of photopathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, especially accessible sources of nutrition, leads to change of both quantity of produced proteinases and their action specificity. The mineral source of nitrogen suppressed the fungus proteinase secretion on cultivation medium containing potato thermostable proteins but an organic source of nitrogen accelerated mycelium growth and increased proteinase secretion. On the basis of an analysis of a fungus extracellular proteinase substrate-specificity, it is established that the presence of thermostable proteins of a potato in the cultural liquid induces the secretion of trypsin-like proteinases mainly, and the addition of yeast extract to this growth medium induces the secretion of subtilisin-like ones, thus suppressing the trypsin-like enzymes production. This fact can indicate that mycelium of fungus R. solani loses pathogenic properties and becomes saprophytes when the growth medium was enriched by an organic source of nitrogen.

A protein of 22 kDa designated as PKTI-22 was isolated from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Istrinskii) and purified to homogeneity using CM-Sepharose CL-6B ion-exchange chromatography. The protein efficiently suppressed the activity of trypsin, affected chymotrypsin less, and did not affect subtilisin Carlsberg. The N-terminal sequence of PKTI-22 (20 amino acid residues) was found to be highly homologous with the amino acid sequences of the potato Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors of group B (PKPI-B) that were aligned from the corresponding gene sequences and was identical to the sequence (from the 2nd to the 20th residue) of the recombinant protein PKPI-B10. These data together with the observed similarity of the properties of two proteins indicate that the PKTI-22 protein is encoded by the PKPI-B10 gene.

Trypsin was immobilized on polymeric carriers with low critical solution temperature (LCST). Homopolymer of N,N-diethylacrylamide (DEAA), random copolymers of DEAA and acrylamide (AA), and block copolymers polyDEAA-polyAA were used as the carriers. It was shown that at a temperature above LCST all carriers have a conformation change and trypsin's polymeric derivatives precipitate. The maximal activity after phase transition keeps trypsin, immobilized on polyDEAA block in polyDEAA-polyAA block-copolymer.

Oral administration of diluted solutions of insulin results in the absorption of the hormone into bloodstream. After oral administration of diluted insulin solutions to healthy volunteers and animals with experimental diabetes insulin does not undergo hydrolytic degradation under the action of proteolytic enzymes and its absorption is sufficient to produce the hypoglycemic effect. This approach gives a chance of creating of novel strategy for diabetes treatment.

It was demonstrated that biogenic elicitors, arachidonic acid and chitosan, locally and systemically stimulated wound healing in potato tuber tissues by increasing the number of wound periderm layers, accelerating the development of cork cambium (phellogen), and inducing proteinase inhibitors. The signal molecules, jasmonic and salicylic acids, had different effects on the development of wound periderm: jasmonic acid locally and systemically stimulated potato wound healing and elevated the level of proteinase inhibitors, whereas salicylic acid did not have any effect on wound healing and even blocked the formation of proteinase inhibitors.

We cloned the products of polymerase chain reaction of the genome DNA of potato (Solanum tuberosum L., Istrinskii cultivar) and isolated 35 clones, which represent copies of eight genes encoding Kunitz type C proteases. Their nucleotide sequences were established. All the genes were found for the first time and designated as PKPI-C1-PKPI-N8. The gene PKPI-C2, which we had earlier presumed to encode the subtilisin PKSI inhibitor, was cloned into pQE30 vector and then expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The recombinant protein PKPI-C2 underwent spontaneous folding and transformation into a soluble state. We purified it to homogeneity by affinity chromatography. The PKPI-C2 protein efficiently inhibited subtilisin Carlsberg activity and did not act on trypsin, chymotrypsin, or papain.

Possible utilities for natural inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes in plant biotechnology have been reviewed. Among the potential areas of use of the inhibitors are (1) construction of transgenic plants with increased resistance to insects and other pests and (2) development of procedures for biosynthesis of recombinant proteins. In the latter case, the inhibitors will serve to prevent the protein degradation by proteinases.

The elicitor arachidonic acid in combination with jasmonic acid (JA) induced a higher level of defense against the late blight agent in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tissues than in combination with salicylic acid (SA). On the contrary, the elicitor chitosan displayed a higher inductive effect in combination with SA as compared with JA. The optimal concentrations of tested compounds were selected for designing the compositions activating wound repair, induction of proteinase inhibitors, and resistance to the biotrophic pathogen Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary. It was demonstrated that the compositions of elicitor and systemic signal molecules provided a faster spreading of an inducing effect in the potato tissues.

We studied the effect of two proteins, PSPI-21 and PKSI, on the growth and development of phytopathogenic microorganisms (Phytophthora infestans oomycete and Fusarium culmorum fungus). Both proteins were isolated from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Istrinskii) and served as inhibitors of serine proteinases. These proteins differed in the ability to inhibit growth of Phytophthora infestans oomycete and Fusarium culmorum fungus. PSPI-21 was the most potent in modulating the growth of oomycete mycelium. PKSI primarily affected the growth of the fungal mycelium. The proteins under study induced complete destruction of oomycete zoospores and partial destruction of fungal macroconidia. Our results suggest that these proteins are involved in the protection of potato plants from phytopathogenic microorganisms.

Five Kunitz protease inhibitor group B genes were isolated from the genome of the diploid non-tuber-forming potato species Solanum palustre. Three of five new genes share 99% identity to the published KPI-B genes from various cultivated potato accessions, while others exhibit 96% identity. Spls-KPI-B2 and Spls-KPI-B4 proteins contain unique substitutions of the most conserved residues usually involved to trypsin and chymotrypsin-specific binding sites of Kunitz-type protease inhibitor (KPI)-B, respectively. To test the inhibition of trypsin and chymotrypsin by Spls-KPI proteins, five of them were produced in E. coli purified using a Ni-sepharose resin and ion-exchange chromatography. All recombinant Spls-KPI-B inhibited trypsin; K(i) values ranged from 84.8 (Spls-KPI-B4), 345.5 (Spls-KPI-B1), and 1310.6 nM (Spls-KPI-B2) to 3883.5 (Spls-KPI-B5) and 8370 nM (Spls-KPI-B3). In addition, Spls-KPI-B1 and Spls-KPI-B4 inhibited chymotrypsin. These data suggest that regardless of substitutions of key active-center residues both Spls-KPI-B4 and Spls-KPI-B1 are functional trypsin-chymotrypsin inhibitors.

The ability of cysteine proteinase inhibitors (CPIs) isolated from tubers of potato (Solanum tuberosum) to suppress transpeptidase activity of fibrin stabilizing factor (FXIIIa) through the direct effect on the essential SH group of the enzyme active site has been studied. The formation of fibrin clots soluble in 5 M urea and 2% acetic acid as well as spectrophotometric turbidity analysis of the stabilization and resistance of fibrin clots formed in the presence of FXIIIa and CPIs from potato tubers to plasmin, and electrophoresis of reduced fibrin samples indicate the decrease or absence of covalent crosslinking of fibrin chains. In addition, CPIs added to the substrate proved to decelerate fibrinogen polymerization almost twice relative to control. It is concluded that natural CPIs can both take part in the regulation of FXIIIa transpeptidase activity in vitro and modify the substrate.

The inhibitory activity of ovomucoid from duck egg white, immobilized on chitosan with the use of glutaraldehyde or carbodiimide as cross-linking agents, was studied. Glutaraldehyde proved to be a more preferable cross-linking agent than carbodiimide. When chitosan is used as a protein carrier, the possibility of shifting the pH optimum of these compounds should be taken into account.

The gene PKPI-B10 [AF536175] encoding in potato (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Istrinskii) a Kunitz-type protein inhibitor of proteinases (PKPI) has been cloned into the pET23a vector and then expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein PKPI-B10 obtained as inclusion bodies was denatured, separated from admixtures by ion-exchange fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) on MonoQ under denaturing conditions, and renatured. The native protein was additionally purified by ion-exchange FPLC on DEAE-Toyopearl. The PKPI-B10 protein effectively inhibits the activity of trypsin, significantly weaker suppresses the activity of chymotrypsin, and has no effect on other serine proteinases: human leukocyte elastase, subtilisin Carlsberg, and proteinase K, and also the plant cysteine proteinase papain.

The fungal plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn. grown in a medium containing thermostable potato tuber proteins produced proteinases active at moderately alkaline pH values. Electrophoretic analysis in polyacrylamide gel with SDS and copolymerized gelatin showed that the extracellular proteinase complex contained four components that differed in molecular weight. Studies on the action of the exoenzymes on various synthetic substrates indicated that the culture liquid of R. solani contained mainly trypsin-like proteinases. The exoproteinase activity was virtually completely suppressed by trypsin inhibitor proteins isolated from potato tubers and seeds of various legume species. The results suggest that the extracellular proteinases produced by R. solani play a significant role in attacking plant tissue, and natural inhibitors contribute to the protection of Solanaceae and Leguminosae from this fungal pathogen.

Different forms of participation of proteolytic enzymes in pathogenesis and plant defense are reviewed. Together with extracellular proteinases, phytopathogenic microorganisms produce specific effectors with proteolytic activity and are able to act on proteins inside the plant cell. In turn, plants use both extracellular and intracellular proteinases for defense against phytopathogenic microorganisms. Among the latter, a special role belongs to vacuolar processing enzymes (legumains), which perform the function of caspases in the plant cell.

The growth of Fusarium culmorum fungus on a medium containing thermostable proteins from potato tubers was accompanied by the production of proteinases, exhibiting activity over a broad pH range (from 6.0-10.0). When studied by SDS-PAGE in the presence of beta-mercaptoethanol, extracellular proteinases were represented by at least five species with a molecular weight of 30-60 kDa. Inhibitor analysis and studies of enzyme activities with synthetic substrates demonstrated that the culture liquid of Fusarium culmorum contained serine proteinases of various classes. The amount of subtilisin-like proteinases was the highest. A near-complete inhibition of the enzymes was caused by proteinaceous proteinase inhibitors from potato tubers. These data suggest that proteinases of the phytopathogen Fusarium culmorum serve as a metabolic target for natural inhibitors of potato proteinases.

The activity of trypsin-like proteinases and trypsin inhibitors was measured in fruiting bodies of various species of basidial fungi (Basidiomycetes). Fruiting bodies of all fungi contained these enzymes, with the exceptions of polypore (Coriolus versicolor (Fr.) Karst) and hedgehog fungus (Hericium erinaceus (Fr.) Quel), belonging to the families Polyporaceae and Hericiaceae, respectively, in which the enzyme activities were barely detectable. The activity of trypsin-like proteinases was the highest in fruiting bodies of Boletaceae and Agaricaceae. Fruiting bodies of all fungi contained trypsin inhibitors. The highest activity of trypsin inhibitors was detected in basidiomycetes of the families Boletaceae, Agaricaceae, and Pleurotaceae, including Boletus castanus (Fr.) Karst, orange-cap boletus (Leccinum aurantiacum (Fr.) Sing), and brown-cap boletus (Leccinum melanum (Fr.) Karst).

The spread, classifications, and properties of plant proteins capable of inhibiting proteinases have been reviewed. Data from the literature on the likely physiological functions of these inhibitors in plants are analyzed.

Eighteen clones representing copies of four Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitor group B genes (PKPI-B) obtained by polymerase chain reaction cloning of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Istrinskii) genomic DNA were sequenced and analyzed. Three new genes were found and named PKPI-B1, PKPI-B2, and PKPI-B10: these were represented by five, two, and seven clones, respectively. The remaining four clones corresponded to the formerly characterized PKPI-B9 gene. These data show that at least four PKPI-B encoding genes are harbored in the genome of potato cv. Istrinskii. Their analysis suggests that variability of PKPI-B encoding genes in potato is limited and could be explained by cross-hybridization events in the ancestor forms rather than by random mutagenesis.

This review analyzes the literature on various mechanisms of proteolytic enzyme inhibitors involved in plant defense against attack by phytopathogenic microorganisms. The action of proteinase inhibitors from plants upon the enzymes from pathogenic microorganisms and viruses is reviewed. Considerable attention is given to the induction of proteinase inhibitors in plants in response to the invasion of pathogens. Some aspects of application of proteinase inhibitors in biotechnology for production of transgenic plants with enhanced resistance to diseases are discussed.

A protein with molecular weight of 21 kD denoted as PKSI has been isolated from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Istrinskii). The isolation procedure includes precipitation with (NH4)2SO4, gel chromatography on Sephadex G-75, and ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Sepharose CL-6B. The protein effectively inhibits the activity of subtilisin Carlsberg (Ki = 1.67 +/- 0.2 nM) by stoichiometric complexing with the enzyme at the molar ratio of 1 : 1. The inhibitor has no effect on trypsin, chymotrypsin, and the cysteine proteinase papain. The N-terminal sequence of the protein consists of 19 amino acid residues and is highly homologous to sequences of the known inhibitors from group C of the subfamily of potato Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors (PKPIs-C). By cloning PCR products from the genomic DNA of potato, a gene denoted as PKPI-C2 was isolated and sequenced. The N-terminal sequence (residues from 15 to 33) of the protein encoded by the PKPI-C2 gene is identical to the N-terminal sequence (residues from 1 to 19) of the isolated protein PKSI. Thus, the inhibitor PKSI is very likely encoded by this gene.

When grown in a medium containing heat-stable potato tuber proteins, the oomycete Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary produces a set of exoproteinases active at neutral and mildly basic pH values. These extracellular proteinases have been shown by SDS-PAGE with the presence of gelatin to include at least six components differing in molecular weight. Inhibitory analysis and study of the effects of the enzymes on various synthetic substrates show that the culture liquid of P. infestans contains mainly serine proteinases specific to trypsin and subtilisin and metalloproteinases. Their activity is suppressed by proteinase-inhibitor proteins from potato tubers. It is suggested that P. infestans exoproteinases may be the metabolic target for natural proteinase inhibitors from potato.

Seven structurally similar clones from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), cv. Istrinskii genomic DNA were isolated by cloning of the PCR products. It was suggested that five of these clones were the amplified copies of the same gene. Based on comparative and structural analysis of these clones, initial nucleotide structure of the gene was reconstructed. It appeared to be highly homologous (98%) to the already published sequences encoding the proteins belonging to the soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor family (SKTI). Comparison of the results with the previously published data on the SKTI-type proteinase inhibitors from potato of cv. Istrinskii suggests that the gene examined encodes both chains of the earlier described PSPI-21-6.3 protein [9].

Laminarin blocks potato immune responses by inhibiting the reaction of oversensitivity, formation of phytoalexins, wound repair, and the activity of proteinase inhibitors. It was found that laminarin exhibits antielicitor activity. Addition of salicylic acid to laminarin enhances its immunosuppressing effect, which becomes systemic.

Mechanical damage or infection of potatoes with Phytophthora infestans caused an accumulation of only serine protease inhibitors in exudates of potato tubers. Among them, proteins prevailed that are structurally similar to those present in healthy tubers: a 22-kDa trypsin inhibitor, a 21-kDa serine protease inhibitor consisting of two polypeptide chains, and a 8-kDa potato chymotrypsin I inhibitor produced de novo. The accumulated proteins inhibited the growth of hyphae and germination of zoospores of P. infestans. Treatment with elicitors, jasmonic and arachidonic acids, intensified the accumulation of these inhibitors in tubers in response to the wound stress, whereas salicylic acid blocked this process. These results suggest that the lipoxygenase metabolism plays a substantial role in signal transduction of the protective system of resting potato tubers.

Literature data on plant proteinase inhibitors as multifunctional proteins are reviewed. In addition to the direct inhibitory effect on enzymes, these proteins may function in other processes, particularly under biotic and environmental stressful conditions. A special section discusses the relationships of plant proteinase inhibitors and storage proteins.

The time course of accumulation and the composition of proteinase-inhibiting proteins in diffusates from potato tubers treated with elicitors such as salicylic, jasmonic, and arachidonic acids were studied. The 40-kDa reserve protein patatin and the chymotrypsin inhibitors, among which proteins of 24.6, 22.0, and 16.0 kDa were prevalent, accumulated in diffusates from potato tubers. Jasmonic and arachidonic acids activated the accumulation of the chymotrypsin inhibitors in tubers in response to the injury stress, whereas salicylic acid inhibited this process. The effects of jasmonic and arachidonic acids increased when their concentrations decreased to 10(-6) M. The data suggest an important role of the lipoxygenase metabolism in signal transduction of the anti-injury defense system in the dormant potato tubers.

Literature data on possible ways of involvement of proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors in protection of plants from pests and diseases are analyzed. Certain practical applications of natural protease inhibitors to plant protection are discussed.

A new approach to overcome the degradation of insulin by proteolytic enzymes and its targeting to the blood through the digestive apparatus was developed. The approach is based on the immobilization of insulin into the polymeric hydrogel which is modified by ovomucoid--glycoprotein, inhibitor of proteolytic enzymes. Oral administration of this system to rabbits and rats, (in contrast to the hydrogels modified by proteolytic enzymes inhibitors without polysaccharide part), statistically significantly lowered blood glucose level.

The serine proteinase inhibitor (PSPI-21) isolated from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) comprises two protein species with pI 5.2 and 6.3, denoted as PSPI-21-5.2 and PSPI-21-6.3, respectively. They were separated by anion exchange chromatography on a Mono Q FPLC column. Both species tightly inhibit human leukocyte elastase, whereas their interaction with trypsin and chymotrypsin is substantially weaker. The sequences of both PSPI-21-5.2 and PSPI-21-6.3 were determined by analysis of overlapping peptides obtained from the oxidized or reduced and S-pyridylethylated proteins after digestion with trypsin or pepsin. Both species of PSPI-21 are composed of two chains, named chains A and B, which are linked by a disulfide bridge between Cys(146) and Cys(157). The other disulfide bridge is located within the A chains between Cys(48) and Cys(97). The amino acid sequences of the large A chains of the two forms, consisting of 150 amino acids residues each, differ in a single residue at position 52. The small chains B, containing 37 and 36 residues in PSPI-21-6.3 and PSPI-21-5.2, respectively, have nine different residues. The entire amino acid sequences of the two inhibitors show a high degree of homology to the other Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors from plants.

A 21-kD protein isolated earlier from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) has two isoforms, with pI 6.3 and 5.2, which were separated by fast protein ion-exchange chromatography on a Mono Q column. The primary structures of the two forms consisted of 187 and 186 amino acid residues. Both isoforms are composed of two polypeptide chains, designated A and B, linked by a single disulfide bond between Cys-146 of the A chain and Cys-7 of the B chain. The amino acid sequences of the A chains of the two forms, consisting of 150 residues each, differ in a single amino acid residue at position 52 (Val --> Ile), while the B chains, containing 37 and 36 residues, respectively, have substitutions at nine positions (Leu-8 --> Ser-8, Lys-25--Asp-26 --> Asn-25--Glu-26, Ile-31--Ser-32 --> Val-31--Leu-32, Lys-34--Gln-35--Val-36--Gln-37 --> Gln-34--Glu-35--Val-36). Both isoforms form stable inhibiting complexes with human leukocyte elastase and are less effective against chymotrypsin and trypsin.

The effect of modifications of Met, Arg, and Lys residues on the inhibitory activity of a serine proteinase-inhibiting 21-kD protein from potato tubers has been studied. The data indicate that the 21-kD protein has two independent reactive sites for human leukocyte elastase (or chymotrypsin) and trypsin. It is concluded that the 21-kD inhibitor has Met and Arg residues in the P1 position of the reactive sites responsible for interactions with elastase (or chymotrypsin) and trypsin. It is shown that the 21-kD protein is capable of forming a triple complex binding simultaneously one molecule of trypsin and one molecule of chymotrypsin.

Chitinase and proteinase activities were found in aphroproteins excreted by larvae of the cicada Aphrophora costalis Mats; this accounts for their fungicidal effect. Aphroproteins did not show DNase or RNase activities and did not exhibit properties of proteinase inhibitors. The data suggest that larval foam protects the larva and host plant from entomogenous and phytopathogenic fungi.

Three protein proteolytic enzyme inhibitors with molecular masses 21, 22, and 23 kDa have been isolated from intact potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Istrinskii). The 21 and 22 kDa proteins denoted as PSPI-21 and PSPI-22, respectively, are serine proteinase inhibitors with different specificity. The 23 kDa protein denoted as PCPI-23 is an inhibitor of plant cysteine proteinases. The PSPI-21 molecule consists of two disulfide-linked polypeptide chains with molecular masses of 16.5 kDa and 4.5 kDa. The PSPI-22 and PCPI-23 have one polypeptide chain. Their amino-termini numbered 21-25 amino acid residues have significant homology to other plant inhibitors which are members of the soybean Kunitz inhibitor family. It is found that at least PSPI-21 and PSPI-22 can predominantly accumulate in potato tubers infected with Phytophthora infestans zoospores.

Three protein inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes with molecular weights 21, 22, and 23 kD were isolated from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by gel and ion-exchange chromatography. The 21- and 22-kD proteins were shown to be serine proteinase inhibitors with different specificities. The 21-kD protein inhibits human leucocyte elastase and trypsin effectively, but it is less effective towards chymotrypsin. The 22-kD protein is an inhibitor of cysteine proteinases and suppresses the activities of papain, ficin, and bromelain with the same affinities. None of the isolated proteins inhibit subtilisin, pepsin, or cathepsin D. The 21-kD protein consists of two disulfide-linked polypeptide chains with molecular weights of 16.5 +/- 1 kD and 4.5 +/- 1 kD. The 22-kD and 23-kD proteins have a single polypeptide chain. The N-terminal 22-25 amino acid sequences of these three proteins were determined. These sequences have significant homology to other plant inhibitors from the Kunitz soybean inhibitor superfamily.

A serine proteinase inhibitor (ovomucoid) has been isolated from duck egg white. The duck ovomucoid effectively inhibited HLE, PPE, chymotrypsin, and HCG in a 1:1 molar ratio, and trypsin in a 1:2 molar ratio. Inhibition of human plasmin and porcine pancreatic kallikrein was not observed. The ovomucoid shows equilibrium dissociation constants of 0.002; 2.4; 2.2; 6.1; and 18.0 nM for HLE, PPE, chymotrypsin, trypsin, and HCG, respectively. The molecule of inhibitor can simultaneously bind two trypsin molecules and one molecule of elastase (or chymotrypsin).