Chitinase-Like Proteins with Antifungal Activity from Emperor Banana Fruits

Two 30-kDa proteins with N-terminal sequence homology to chitinases have been isolated from fruits of the emperor banana by using a protocol that involved (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, affinity chromatography on Affi-gel blue gel, ion exchange chromatography by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) on Mono S and gel filtration by FPLC on Superdex 75. The proteins were adsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel and Mono S. They both inhibited mycelial growth in Fusarium oxysporum but not in Mycosphaerella arachidicola. The chitinase-like protein more strongly bound on Mono S was obtained with a slightly lower yield and exhibited a higher antifungal potency toward F. oxysporum when compared with the less strongly bound chitinase-like protein.