Bowman-Birk type protease inhibitors

The Bowman-Birk type protease inhibitors represent a class of low molecular weight, cysteine-rich proteins found in legume seeds (.10). The major Bowman-Birk inhibitor in soybean seeds is a double-headed protein capable of blocking the activity of both trypsin and chymotrypsin. This protein represents approximately 4% of the total protein in soybean seeds (1J ). In contrast to the soybean trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz), the "double-headed inhibitor (referred to as BB) is typical of protease inhibitors present in a large number of legume seeds for example, peanuts (12) chick peas (33)5 kidney beans (3JO adzuki beans (33) lima beans (16). 

Based on their sequence homology, disulfide connectivity, and cysteine location within the sequence and chemistry of the reactive site. Pis can be assigned to distinct families, as classified by Laskowski and Kato. Kunitz-type, Bowman—Birk-type, Potato type I and type II, and squash inhibitors are members of these families shown in Table 3. For inhibitors not falling into these classifications more families have been proposed. Pis can also be classified by their target/mode of action. Plants have been found to express Pis that target serine proteinases, cysteine proteinases, aspartic proteinases, and metallo-proteinases. Serine and cysteine protease inhibitors are the best-studied PIs. ... 

Buckwheat [Pagopyrum esctdentum, Polygonaceae) contains the inhibitor BTl (Buckwheat Trypsin Inhibitor), and, correspondingly, three isoinhibitors of the Bowman-Birk type that are called BTl-1, BTl-2 and BTl-3, which consist of a single polypeptide chain containing 69 amino acids. The content of protease inhibitors in selected legumes is shown in Table 10.1. 

A different approach toward cyclic peptides has been presented by Leatherbarrow and coworkers, employing ring-dosing metathesis (RCM) on a solid support [50], The authors reported on the synthesis of conformationally strained cyclic peptides of the Bowman-Birk inhibitor type, which are naturally occurring serine protease... 

Protease inhibitors in soybeans, known as trypsin inhibitors (TIs), play important roles in nutritional properties of soybeans and soy protein products. Two types of TI are the Kunitz inhibitor and the Bowman-Birk inhibitor. The Kunitz inhibitor has a MW of 21,500 with two disulfide bonds, while the Bowman-Birk inhibitor has a MW of 7,900 with seven disulfide bonds (Wolf, 1977). The large ratio of disulfide bonds to MW in the Bowman-Birk inhibitor stabilizes protein conformation and makes the Bowman-Birk inhibitor highly resistant to heat denaturation and inactivation. The Kunitz inhibitor inhibits trypsin, while the Bowman-Birk inhibitor inhibits both trypsin and chymotrypsin. The kinetics of TI inactivation when heating at high water activity were determined by Johnson et al. (1980) they estimated that 83-91% of the TI activity in soybeans is due to the Kunitz inhibitor. Recently, the Bowman-Birk inhibitor was attributed cancer-protecting qualities and also interest exists in using purified soy TI to treat AIDS patients (Kennedy, 1995, 1998 Kennedy Szuhaj, 1994). 

Snail epidermis contains at least six trypsin-kallikrein inhibitors with molecular weights ranging from 6431 to 6591 (70-72). The soybean contains two basic types of protease inhibitors, the Kunitz inhibitor of 21,500 daltons (73) and the Bowman-Birk inhibitor of 7975 daltons (74). The two are quite different proteins as shown in Figure 6. The Great Northern bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) has at least three trypsin isoinhibitors ranging in molecular weight from 8086 to 8884 (15). There are four and possibly six isoinhibitors of trypsin in lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus)(75). 

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