A FATTY-ACID-BINDING PROTEIN FROM WHEAT KERNELS

A protein of about 7 kDa (W-FABP) has been isolated from mature wheat kernels by H2O extraction and gel filtration of the extract, followed by two steps of high-performance liquid chromatography. The N-terminal amino acid sequence has been determined up to the 28th residue and found to be identical (except for positions 4 and 5) to that deduced from a barley cDNA (EMBL X15257), which had been improperly classified as a non-specific lipid transfer protein (LTP2). Similarly with LTPs, W-FABP does bind fatty acids, but in contrast, it is not significantly homologous to LTPs, it is not recognized by LTP antibodies, it has a more acidic isoelectric point (pH < 6.8 vs. pH > 9.6), and it does not show antibiotic properties.