Characteristics and antifungal activity of a chitin binding protein from Ginkgo biloba

An antifungal peptide from leaves of Ginkgo biloba, designated GAFF, has been isolated. Its molecular mass of 4244.0 Da was determined by mass spectrometry. The complete amino acid sequence,vas obtained from automated Edman degradation. GAFF exhibited antifungal activity towards Pellicularia sasakii Ito, Alternaria alternata (Fries) Keissler, Fusarium graminearum Schw. and Fusarium moniliforme. Its activities differed among various fungi. GAFF could also cause increased hyphal membrane permeabilization and a rapid alkalization of the medium when applied at 100 mu g/ml to Pellicularia sasakii Ito hyphae. The amino acid sequence of GAFF shows characteristics of the cysteine/glycine-rich chitin binding domain of many chitin binding proteins. The cysteine residues are well conserved. (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.