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Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) were thus named because they facilitate the transfer of lipids between membranes in vitro. This study was triggered by the characterization of a 9-kDa LTP from Capsicum annuum seeds that we call Ca-LTP(1) . Ca-LTP(1) was repurified, and in the last chromatographic purification step, propanol was used as the solvent in place of acetonitrile to maintain the protein's biological activity. Bidimensional electrophoresis of the 9-kDa band, which corresponds to the purified Ca-LTP(1) , showed the presence of three isoforms with isoelectric points (pIs) of 6.0, 8.5 and 9.5. Circular dichroism (CD) analysis suggested a predominance of α-helices, as expected for the structure of an LTP family member. LTPs immunorelated to Ca-LTP(1) from C. annuum were also detected by western blotting in exudates released from C. annuum seeds and also in other Capsicum species. The tissue and subcellular localization of Ca-LTP(1) indicated that it was mainly localized within dense vesicles. In addition, isolated Ca-LTP(1) exhibited antifungal activity against Colletotrichum lindemunthianum, and especially against Candida tropicalis, causing several morphological changes to the cells including the formation of pseudohyphae. Ca-LTP(1) also caused the yeast plasma membrane to be permeable to the dye SYTOX green, as verified by fluorescence microscopy. We also found that Ca-LTP(1) is able to inhibit mammalian α-amylase activity in vitro.

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins with a high specificity for a variety of glycoconjugate sugar motifs. The jacalin-related lectins (JRL) are considered to be a small sub-family composed of galactose- and mannose-specific members. Using a proteomics approach, we have detected a 16 kDa protein (Helja) in sunflower seedlings that were further purified by mannose-agarose affinity chromatography. The aim of this work was to characterize the biological activity of Helja and to explore potential applications for the antifungal activity of this plant lectin against medically important yeasts. To initially assess the agglutination properties of the lectin, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of the purified lectin. At a concentration of 120 μg/ml, Helja clearly agglutinated these cells. The ability of different sugars to inhibit S. cerevisiae cell agglutination determined its carbohydrate-specificity. Among the monosaccharides tested, D-mannose had the greatest inhibitory effect, with a minimal concentration of 1.5 mM required to prevent cell agglutination. The antifungal activity was evaluated using pathogenic fungi belonging to the Candida and Pichia genera. We demonstrate that 200 μg/ml of Helja inhibited the growth of all yeasts, and it induced morphological changes, particularly through pseudohyphae formation on Candida tropicalis. Helja alters the membrane permeability of the tested fungi and is also able to induce the production of reactive oxygen species in C. tropicalis cells. We concluded that Helja is a mannose-binding JRL with cell agglutination capabilities and antifungal activity against yeasts. The biological properties of Helja may have practical applications in the control of human pathogens.

ABSTRACT. Pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) are among the defense mechanisms of plants that work as an important barrier to the development of pathogens. These proteins are classified into 17 families according to their amino acid sequences, serology, and/or biological or enzyme activity. The present study aimed to identify PRs associated with the pathosystem of Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum: Pepper yellow mosaic virus (PepYMV). Forty-five-day-old plants from accession UENF 1624, previously identified as resistant to PepYMV, were inoculated with the virus. Control and infected leaves were collected for analysis after 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. The inoculated and control plants were grown in cages covered with anti-aphid screens. Proteins were extracted from leaf tissue and the presence of β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, peroxidase, and lipid transport protein was verified.

Plants exude a variety of substances through their surface especially of roots and germinating seeds. Some of these released compounds seem to have an inhibitory action against certain pathogens. Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are 9 kDa cysteine-rich cationic peptides and are thought to play a role in the protection of plants against microbial infections. The aim of this work was to isolate and determine the molecular mass of a LTP present in the exudates of imbibed cowpea seeds. For exudation induction, 50 seeds were submerged in 50 mL sterile 100 mmol.L-1 Na-acetate buffer, pH 4.5 and shaken at 30 ºC for 24 h. The resulting exudate was subjected to ammonium sulphate fractionation and the pellet formed between 0 and 70 % saturation was dialysed and recovered by freeze drying. Further purification steps were carried out using chromatographic methods and the molecular mass of the LTP determined. All of these steps were monitored by SDS-Tricine gel electrophoresis and Western blotting using an anti-LTP serum. The purified LTP showed a relative molecular mass of 9 kDa.