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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #91548
Title: POSSIBLE DEFENSE RELATED ENZYMES OF CANTALOUPE FRUIT: PURIFICATION OF CHITOBAISE.

Author
item BILES, CHARLES - EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
item CLUCK, TERRY - EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
item Bruton, Benny
item Russo, Vincent

Submitted to: Beta Beta Beta Biological Society (BIOS)
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/3/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cantaloupe fruit is highly perishable after harvest due to postharvest fungal pathogens. These pathogens invade the fruit during net development and remain dormant (latent) until fruit maturity. The induction of latency and the stimulation to continue infection at fruit maturity is poorly understood. One hypothesis is that fruit defense enzymes are present early yin fruit development but, decrease in activity as the fruit matures, therefore, rendering the fruit more susceptible to fungal pathogens. Chitinase and chitobiase (N-acetyl-B-glucosaminidase) have been found in several plant and fungal species and are implicated as having antifungal activity. Chitobiase activity was observed in mesocarp and exocarp tissue with the highest activity in fruit mesocarp tissue 40 days after anthesis. Acetone precipitated proteins were applied to an anion and cation exchange column. Two peaks were observed. The anionic peak had the most activity and this fraction was applied to a size-exclusion column (SEC) which indicated one peak of chitobiase activity. SDS-PAGE of the chitobiase fraction showed one protein band at ca. 30 kD. Isolation and genetic manipulation of the genes for chitinase and chitobiase may provide greater protection against postharvest fungal pathogens.