AMINO-ACID-SEQUENCE OF THE N-TERMINAL DOMAIN OF YAM (DIOSCOREA-JAPONICA) AERIAL TUBER ACIDIC CHITINASE - EVIDENCE FOR THE PRESENCE OF A WHEAT-GERM-AGGLUTININ DOMAIN IN MATURED ACIDIC CHITINASE FROM UNSTRESSED TUBER

The amino acid sequence of the N-terminal domain of acidic chitinase from unstressed aerial tuber was determined and proved the presence of an N-terminal domain in acidic chitinase. The amino acid sequence was determined on a pyroglutamylaminopeptidase-treated N-terminal fragment of V8 protease and on chymotryptic peptides of this fragment. The sequence determined revealed 8 residues deletion and 2 residues insertion as compared with the N-terminal domain of tobacco basic chitinase. The N-terminal domain determined showed a homology of 40% and 52% with the N-terminal domain of tobacco basic chitinase and wheat germ agglutin, respectively.