| Abstract Detail
Phytochemical Section Lewis, Kristin [1], Sagi, Irit [2]. Plant-derived polyphenolics inhibit pectin methylesterase from parasitic plants. Pectin methyl esterase (PME) is critical plant enzyme involved in cell changes associated with growth and cell elongation, and fruit ripening. It has also been implicated in the invasion of host tissue by parasitic plant haustoria, along with several other cell wall degrading enzymes. In fact, plants resistant to parasitism by other plant species have been shown to contain strong inhibitors of cell degrading enzymes such as PME in the surface of stem tissue. Residual PME activity is also responsible for degradation and “cloud loss” in processed fruit products such as juices. Pectin methyl esterase inhibitors have been identified previously from kiwi fruit and other naturally occurring sources, doubtless because of the importance of controlling PME activity in vivo. However, to our knowledge, the inhibitors identified to date are proteins. We have utilized a small organic molecule found in a common plant extract to strongly inhibit PME activity both in commercial extracts of the enzyme and in extractions of parasitic plants such as Cuscuta pentagona and Castilleja indivisa. We present the evidence for inhibition, data on inhibition levels and binding, and suggest potential uses for field control of parasitic plants in agricultural settings.
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1 - Harvard University, Rowland Institute at Harvard, 100 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
2 - Weizmann Institute of Science, Structural Biology, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
Keywords:
parasitic plants
pectin methylesterase
enzyme inhibition
cell wall degrading enzymes
polyphenolics.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: CP60
Location: Williford C/Hilton
Date: Wednesday, July 11th, 2007
Time: 4:15 PM
Number: CP60004
Abstract ID:1447 |
