Gel detection of Allium porrum polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein reveals a high number of isoforms

Polygalacturonase inhibiting proteins PGI Ps are leucine-rich repeat glycoproteins. localized in the cell wall of most plant species, capable of countering the activity of endo-polygalacturonases (endo-PGs) produced by phytopathogenic fungi. The PGIP from Allium porrum leaves was analysed to ascertain the presence of different molecular forms of PGIP. Leek PGIP was separated into two fractions: a soluble and an ionically wall-bound PGIP, each of which was then purified by cation-exchange chromatography. Two and three peaks of PGIP activity were obtained, respectively. PGIP isoforms contained in each peak were separated by isoelectrofocusing (IEF) on a polyacrylamide gel. Following the separation, the gel was first overlaid with sodium polygalacturonate and then treated with the endo-PG from either Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium moniliforme or Botrytis aclada. The endo-PG(s) hydrolyse the overlaid substrate except where active inhibitors are present. The presence of PGIPs is revealed by ruthenium red staining of the nonhydrolysed substrate. Each PGIP peak following IEF separation revealed several PGIP isoforms with pIs between 5.0 and 7.0. More than 20 isoforms were detected in total. with considerable differences in their inhibitory activity. While similar PGIP isoform patterns were obtained by developing the IEF gels with the endo-PGs of S. sclerotiorum and B. aclada, less intense PGIP bands were observed with the endo-PG from B. aclada, consistent with inhibition assays performed in solution. The endo-PG from F. moniliforme, which is not inhibited at all by leek PGIP in solution, consistently showed no PGIP band on the gel assay. (C) 2001 Academic Press.