Cystatins, Serpins and other Families of Protease Inhibitors in Plants

Title: Cystatins, Serpins and other Families of Protease Inhibitors in Plants

Volume: 12 Issue: 5

Author(s): Mariateresa Volpicella, Claudia Leoni, Alessandra Costanza, Francesca De Leo, Raffaele Gallerani and Luigi R. Ceci

Affiliation:

Keywords: Plant, protease inhibitor, insect protease, plant defence, plant protease inhibitors, serine, cysteine, seed germination, embryogenesis, biotic stresses, abiotic stresses, cell death, jasmonic acid, CLUSTALW

Abstract: Plant protease inhibitors (PIs) are generally small proteins present in high concentrations in storage tissues (tubers and seeds), and to a lower level in leaves. Even if most of them are active against serine and cysteine proteases, PIs active against aspartic proteases and carboxypeptidases have also been identified. Inhibitors of serine proteases are further classifiable in several families on the basis of their structural features. They comprise the families known as Bowman- Birk, Kunitz, Potato I and Potato II, which are the subject of review articles included in this special issue. In the present article we aim to give an overview of other families of plant PIs, active either against serine proteases or other class of proteases, describing their distribution, activity and main structural characteristics.

Cite this article as:

Volpicella Mariateresa, Leoni Claudia, Costanza Alessandra, De Leo Francesca, Gallerani Raffaele and R. Ceci Luigi, Cystatins, Serpins and other Families of Protease Inhibitors in Plants, Current Protein & Peptide Science 2011; 12 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138920311796391098

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138920311796391098	Print ISSN 1389-2037
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 1875-5550