Cardosin A, an abundant aspartic proteinase, accumulates in protein storage vacuoles in the stigmatic papillae of Cynara cardunculus L.

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 1997

Autores

RamalhoSantos, M (Autor) Outra; Pissarra, J (Autor) FCUP; Verissimo, P (Autor) Outra; Pereira, S (Autor) FCUP; Salema, R (Autor) FCUP; Pires, E (Autor) Outra; Faro, CJ (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: Planta

Vol. 203

Páginas: 204-212

ISSN: 0032-0935

Editora: Springer Nature

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 62 Citações

Scopus - 68 Citações

Classificação Científica

FOS: Ciências exactas e naturais > Ciências biológicas

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-001-AMW

DOI: 10.1007/s004250050183

Abstract (EN): The function of aspartic proteinases (EC 3.4.23) present in flowers of Cynara species is still unknown. Cardosin Al as a highly abundant aspartic proteinase from Cynara cardunculus L.. a relative of the artichoke, is synthesised as a zymogen and subsequently undergoes proteolytic processing, yielding the mature and active enzyme. Here we report the study of the expression and localization of cardosin A-as a first approach to address the question of its physiological relevance. A polyclonal antibody specific for cardosin A was raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to an amino acid sequence of the enzyme. This antibody was used to study the organ-specific, tissue specific and subcellular localization of cardosin A by immunoblotting, tissue printing and immunogold electron microscopy. The results showed that expression of cardosin A is highly restricted to the pistils, and that the enzyme accumulates mainly in protein storage vacuoles of the stigmatic papillae. Cardosin A is also present, although much less abundantly, in the vacuoles of the cells of the epidermis of the style. In view of these results, the possible physiological roles of cardosin A are discussed, namely an involvement in defense mechanisms or pollen-pistil interaction, as well as in flower senescence.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 9