[Proteolytic enzymes and trypsin inhibitors of higher plants under stress conditions].

The response of the components of a protease-inhibitor system of legume and cereal crops to stress factors was studied. It was found that salinization, heavy metal ions, and phytopathogenic flora inhibit the activity of neutral, acidic, and alkaline proteases at early stages of seed germination, the degree of the inhibition of the endoprotease activity being dependent on the index of tolerance of legume and cereal crops. It was shown that, in response to unfavorable conditions, accumulation of trypsin inhibitors occurs, which is accompanied by the appearance of new protein components, as indicated by electrophoresis. The results confirm the presumption that serine protease inhibitors are involved in the response of plants to stress factors.

[Proteinase inhibitors as antistress proteins in higher plants].

Physicochemical and functional characteristics of plant protein proteinase inhibitors as antistress biopolymers were studied to determine the mechanisms for plant resistance to phytopathogens and to obtain disease-resistant cereal and leguminous cultures. The activity of trypsin, chymotrypsin, and subtilisin inhibitors varied in monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous cultures. Study varieties of leguminous and cereal cultures were shown to contain endogenous inhibitors specific to proteinases of phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium, Colletotrichum, Helminthosporium, and Botrytis. These inhibitors were characterized by species specificity and variety specificity. Protease inhibitors from buckwheat seeds inhibited proteases of fungal pathogens and suppressed germination of spores and growth of the fungal mycelium. Our results suggest that proteinaceous inhibitors of proteinases are involved in the protective reaction of plants under stress conditions.