In Silico Analysis and Functional Characterization of Antimicrobial and Insecticidal Vicilin from Moth Bean (Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal) Seeds

Abstract

Vicilin has nutraceutical potential and different noteworthy medicative health-promoting biotic diversions, and it is remarkable against pathogenic microorganisms and insects. In this study, Vigna aconitifolia vicilin (VacV) has been identified and characterized from the seed of Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal (Moth beans). LC-MS/MS analysis of VacV provided seven random fragmented sequences comprising 238 residues, showing significant homology with already reported Vigna radiata vicilin (VraV). VacV was purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation (60%) followed by size exclusion chromatography on Hi-Load 16/60 Superdex 200 pg column and anion-exchange chromatography (Hi trap Q FF column). Purified VacV showed a major ~50 kDa band and multiple lower bands on 12% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under both reduced and non-reduced conditions. After all, a three-dimensional molecular structure of VacV was predicted, which showed β-sheeted molecular conformation similar to crystallographic structure of VraV. All Vicilins from V. aconitifolia and other plants were divided into six sub-groups by phylogenetic analysis, and VacV shared a high degree of similarity with vicilins of Vigna radiata, Pisum sativum, Lupinus albus, Cicer arietinum and Glycine max. Additionally, VacV (20 μg) has significant growth inhibition against different pathogenic bacteria along strong antifungal activity (50 μg). Likewise, VacV (3.0 mg) produced significant growth reduction in Rice Weevil Sitophilus oryzae larvae after 9 days compared with control. Furthermore, by using MMT assay, the cytotoxicity effect of VacV on the growth of HepG2 liver cancerous cells was tested. VacV showed cytotoxicity against the HepG-2 line and the acquired value was 180 µg after 48 h. Finally, we performed molecular docking against caspase-3 protein (PDB ID: 3DEI) for VacV bioactive receptor interface residues. Hence, our results reveal that VacV, has nutraceutical potential and moth beans can be used as a rich resource of functional foods.

In-silico Studies Calculated a New Chitin Oligomer Binding Site Inside Vicilin: A Potent Antifungal and Insecticidal Agent

“…44 Many plant vicilins from Fabaceae have been reported as antifungal agents, for example, Vigna unguiculata, Vigna aconitifolia, Vigna radiata, and Glycine max. 10,45,46 Vicilin isolated from Vigna unguiculata showed growth inhibition against Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Ustilago madis, and Neurospora crassa. Similarly, another vicilin from cheese weed inhibited the growth of Fusarium graminearum and Phytophthora infestans.…”

“…8,9 Recently, the antifungal and insecticidal potential of vicilin has been reported against pathogenic fungi and stored grain insect pests. 10 In developing countries, insect-related economic losses are estimated to be $500 million to $1 billion per year. 11 Tribolium castaneum is one of the most damaging and widespread pest discovered in cereals and processed foods, 12 as well as the representative pest in flour mills.…”

Anti-Cancer Properties of Flaxseed Proteome

“…Contains peptides with potential anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects [42,45,46]; may have cholesterol-lowering effects [47] 7S Vicilin-Like Globulin May have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects [44,48]; contains peptides with potential anti-cancer effects [49]…”

Transcriptome profiling revealed salt stress-responsive genes in Lilium pumilum bulbs

“…The ordinate represents the Log2 Fold Change values of the DEGs. Lopez, 2020;Ateeq et al, 2022;Bertonceli et al, 2022). Vicilin is also known to have the superoxide dismutase activity (Shikhi et al, 2018), which is able to resist against oxidative stress by scavenging ROS.…”