CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF TRYPSIN-INHIBITOR GENE FROM VIGNA-UNGUICULATA

A trypsin inhibitor, member of Bowman-Birk family, was isolated and purified from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Polyclonal antibodies were raised against cowpea trypsin inhibitor (CpTI) protein in rabbits. The gene for CpTI was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned in a bacterial expression vector pVCATFR18416. The expression of CpTI protein in BL21 (DE3) strain of Escherichia coli. was confirmed by western blot studies. The CpTI gene was also sequenced and found to exhibit 100% homology with already published sequence of CpTI gene.