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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Cereal Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #99007
Title: CHARACTERISTICS OF PROTEINASES PRODUCED BY FUSARIUM GROWN ON CEREAL PROTEINS

Author
item PEKKARINEN, A - VTT, FINLAND
item NIKU-PAAVOLA, MJ - VTT, FINLAND
item Jones, Berne

Submitted to: Brewers Digest
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Recently, Fusarium fungal infections have seriously lowered the yields and quality of US cereal crops. Contaminating Fusarium species also produce mycotoxins that can render crops inedible for humans and/or animals. They can also decrease the malting quality of infected barley by reducing the seed germinability and seedling vigor. We are studying the proteinases of various Fusarium species to determine whether inactivating the proteinases will render the fungi unable to attack barley. To mimic the production of proteinases by F. graminearum growing on cereals, the fungus was cultured on media that contained either wheat gluten or barley grain. The proteinase activities that were excreted into the culture media by the fungus were measured at pH 2.2, 5.0 and 8.0 and were highest at pH 8.0. To more precisely characterize these proteinases, their pH optima were measured. The F. graminearum proteinases were most active at pH 9.0, but both neutral and alkaline enzymes were present. Studies using class- specific protease inhibitors indicated that both the neutral and alkaline enzymes were serine proteinases.