Seed chitinases

• Published in: Seed science research Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 217 - 230
• Main Authors: Gomez, L., Allona, I., Casado, R., Aragoncillo, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2002
• Subjects: antifungal proteins; Biotechnology; chitinase; glycosyl hydrolases; Invited Review Article; latex-fruit syndrome; Plant diseases; PR-proteins; Seeds; somatic embryogenesis; PR-proteins; chitinase; seeds; somatic embryogenesis; antifungal proteins; glycosyl hydrolases; latex-fruit syndrome
• ISSN: 0960-2585; 1475-2735
• DOI: 10.1079/SSR2002113

Specific chitinases accumulate in seeds of many species as part of their normal developmental programme. Some chitinases can also be induced in developing and germinating seeds in response to microbial attack. All known seed isoforms belong to classes I, II, IV and VII, which are encoded by Chia genes, as well as to the more divergent class III encoded by Chib genes. The study of seed-specific chitinases has contributed significantly to current knowledge of this ubiquitous protein family, including antifungal properties, structure, specificity and catalytic mechanism. Indeed, the first plant chitinase for which a three-dimensional structure was solved had been isolated from barley seeds. Moreover, the finding that a chitinase could rescue a somatic embryo mutant was the first evidence of a non-defensive function. Several lines of evidence have substantiated the biotechnological potential of chitinases to counter plant fungal disease. The recent identification of several seed and fruit chitinases as major panallergens should be taken into account when selecting the genes to be introduced into food crops.