Proteolytic activity in plant latices as a chemotaxonomic marker and a target for phylogentic studies

More than 40 different plant families present proteolytic activity in latices. Plant proteases of latices are described for Apocynaceae (13), Asclepiadaceae (11), Asteraceae (1), Caricaceae (6), Convulvalaceae (1), Euphorbiaceae (64) and, Moraceae (62). Most of them belong to serine or cysteine endopeptidases family. In the order Asterales six species are known to present proteolytic activity, but the consideration refer to different plant parts. Campanulaceae are not yet investigated for presence of proteases. In our Investigation we verified the occurrence of proteolytic activity in latex of species of Asteraceae and Campanulaceae. We want to explore in particular the occurrence of serine proteases with the aim to establish a chemotaxonomic marker and a potential target for phylogenetic studies. Proteolytic activity were determined by fluorescence based assay using BODY PY® FL- cassein (invitrogen™) as a substrate and in the following distinguished by application specific protease inhibitors. In both families serine proteases were determine and the occurrence are compared with available informations of phylogenetic studies.