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Plants can respond to traumatism by synthesis and secretion of defence molecules. Wound-healing and desiccation stress of pieces of potato tuber parenchyma (Solanum tuberosum) promoted the secretion of a patatin-like phospholipase A 2 , PLA 2 (EC.3.1.1.4.) that displayed cytotoxic activity against tumour cells. The potato secretion product, an oligomeric form of patatin-like protein, was shown to contain several isoforms of PLA 2 polypeptides and to be associated with other proteins, including Kunitz-type protease inhibitors. Patatin-like protein secretion was inhibited by vanadate. Secreted patatin-like proteins displayed specific features, such as extracellular function and low molecular weights, mainly 36 to 40 kDa. The 36-kDa polypeptide sequence was related to iPLA 2 α. Polypeptide spots of secreted patatin-like protein exhibited a nucleotide-binding consensus motif, GGGIKG that has been described in iPLA 2 gene family. The cytotoxic agent caused cell death of plant crown-gall induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and inhibited B16 cell proliferation, but at the same concentration did not display any toxicity against non-transformed cells. PLA 2 enzyme activity was required for cytotoxicity against B16 melanoma cells. A model for such a specific activity against tumour cells is discussed in connection with asymmetric phospholipid patterns of cell membranes. In conclusion, secreted patatin-like PLA 2 (e-patatin) may represent a novel therapeutic target for the development of new agents against cancer.