Identification and characterisation of proteinase inhibitors and their genes from seeds of apple (Malus domestica).

Trypsin and papain proteinase inhibitors have been identified and purified from aqueous extracts of apple seeds (Malus domestica). Superdex G75 gel filtration chromatography identified a higher molecular weight (HMW) papain inhibitory fraction (22-26 kDa) and a lower molecular weight papain and trypsin inhibitory fraction (6-12 kDa). The lower molecular weight fraction was separated into a trypsin inhibitor (designated Trp1) and early (designated Pap1) and late (designated Pap2) eluting papain inhibitors after anion exchange (Hitrap SP) chromatography. For Pap2, two inhibitory peaks (designated Pap2-1 and Pap2-2) were identified after further anion exchange (Resource S) chromatography. Each of these lower molecular weight inhibitors was purified by reverse phase HPLC to homogeneity as determined by SDS-PAGE and by mass spectrometry. The HMW papain inhibitory fraction was purified further by anion-exchange (Hitrap Q followed by Resource Q) column chromatography where a minor inhibitor (HMWPap1) and major inhibitor (HMWPap2) fraction were identified. The relative abundance in seeds of apple and the spectrum of proteinase inhibition has been determined for all of these inhibitors. Reverse-phase HPLC separated HMWPap2 into a minor (HMWPap2-1) and a major (HMWPap2-2) inhibitory fraction, and SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry confirmed that HMWPap2-2 was purified to homogeneity. Amino acid composition data were obtained from Trp1, Pap1, Pap2-2, and HMWPap2-2, and N-terminal sequence data from Trp1, Pap2-1, Pap2-2, and HMWPap2-2, with two of these sequences (Pap2-2 and HMWPap2-2) perfectly matching predicted protein sequences based on EST sequences from an apple database. The relationship of these inhibitors with those of other species is discussed.