Characteristics and antifungal activity of a chitin binding protein from Ginkgo biloba

An antifungal peptide from leaves of Ginkgo biloba, designated GAFF, has be en isolated. Its molecular mass of 4244.0 Da was determined by mass spectro metry. The complete amino acid sequence,vas obtained from automated Edman d egradation. GAFF exhibited antifungal activity towards Pellicularia sasakii Ito, Alternaria alternata (Fries) Keissler, Fusarium graminearum Schw. and Fusarium moniliforme. Its activities differed among various fungi. GAFF co uld also cause increased hyphal membrane permeabilization and a rapid alkal ization of the medium when applied at 100 mu g/ml to Pellicularia sasakii I to hyphae. The amino acid sequence of GAFF shows characteristics of the cys teine/glycine-rich chitin binding domain of many chitin binding proteins. T he cysteine residues are well conserved. (C) 2000 Federation of European Bi ochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .