Plant proteinaceous inhibitors of proteinases and alpha-amylases

Abstract

Plant proteins which are inhibitory towards various types of enzymes from a wide range of organisms have been extensively studied for many years. Proteinas e inhibitors have received particular attention and accordingly a number of reviews concerning their structure, activity, evolution, possible physiological roles and nutritional properties have appeared regularly in the literature (Ryan, 1973, 1981, 1984; Laskowski and Kato, 1980; Richardson, 1981; Boisen, 1983). Recent technical advances in molecular biology have accelerated the output of information about these inhibitors to the extent that entirely new types have been uncovered and previously unsuspected relationships have been established. These developments justify the present review that will emphasize the novel aspects, glossing over many important topics that have been adequately covered before. Among the most striking recent findings is the structural and evolutionary relationships of different ct-amylase inhibitors with different types of proteinase inhibitors, which is the reason for their joint consideration in this survey.