XIP-type endoxylanase inhibitors in different cereals

Highly pure XIP-type (for Xylanase Inhibiting Protein) endoxylanase inhibitor fractions were selectively obtained with a high yield from rye, durum wheat, barley, and maize extracts by affinity chromatography with immobilised Aspergillus niger endoxylanase Xyn1 following removal of the TAXI-type (for Triticum aestivum xylanase inhibitor) endoxylanase inhibitors by affinity chromatography with immobilised Bacillus subtilis endoxylanase XynA. No inhibitors belonging to the XIP family occur in rice, oats, and buckwheat. N-terminal amino acid sequences of the non-wheat XIP-type inhibitors were very similar or identical to those of wheat XIP-1, a chitinase homologue. The isolated inhibitors are basic, monomeric proteins of ca. 30 kDa with pI values of at least 8.5 (rye, durum wheat, and barley XIP) and ca. 7.0 (maize XIP). They are, in general, active against fungal endoxylanases and do not hydrolyse chitin. SDS–PAGE analysis and high-resolution cation exchange chromatography suggest the presence of multiple XIP-type isoinhibitors in the different cereals.