Abstract
Latex from Caricaceae contains a number of proteins believed to be part of a defense mechanism that protects these plants from wounding. Prior evidence suggests that some components in Carica papaya improve healing of ulcerous wounds in mammals. This study shows the chromatographic isolation of a protein fraction from C. candamarcensis that stimulates cell proliferation of mammalian cells by measuring MTT reduction and thymidine incorporation. The effect appears to be cell specific as L929, MDA-MB231 and BHK-21 cells are stimulated while no effect is seen on CHO cells. The maximal stimulatory effect reaches 2.2-fold 72 h after addition of the active fraction to L929, 1.8-fold in MDA-MB231 cells and 1.6-fold in BHK cells. Proteolytic inactivation of the active fraction suggests that a protein is responsible for the proliferative activity and its size is estimated between 10 and 25 kDa. A potential candidate for this function is a 23 kDa protein found in the fraction that reacts with human EGF antibody.
Key words
Latex - mitogen - Caricaceae -
Carica candamarcensis
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Carlos E Salas, Ph. D.
Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Produtos Naturais
Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia
Instituto de Ciências Biológicas
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Av Antonio Carlos 6627
Belo Horizonte 31270-901
Brasil
Telefon: +55-31-3499-2646
Fax: +55-31-3499-2646
eMail: cesbufmg@mono.icb.ufmg.br
