Seeds contain protective proteins which are able to preserve glucose-6-phos
phate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) activity upon co-dehydration of the enzym
e with heal-stable seed protein extracts. Adenanthera pavonina L. (saga) se
ed extracts, in particular, have high levels of enzyme-preserving activity
which not only alleviate the detrimental effects of desiccation in the pres
ence of Tris-HCl and NaCl, but also stabilize enzyme activity in solution.
Purification of Adenanthera seed extracts by reversed-phase and weak anion-
exchange perfusion chromatography, followed by N-terminal protein sequencin
g have identified Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitors as the major proteins in o
ne set of enzyme-preserving fractions. A quantitative comparison using vari
ous concentrations of purified proteins has demonstrated that soybean Kunit
z trypsin inhibitor is as effective (on a mass basis) as bovine serum album
in in preserving enzyme activity, and may be an important protein permittin
g enzyme dehydration in a seed undergoing desiccation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc
ience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.