Wheat pathogenesis-related proteins of class 4 have ribonuclease activity.

We have demonstrated that wheatwin1, a wheat pathogenesis-related protein of class 4 (PR4), has ribonuclease activity. Both native and recombinant proteins hydrolyse RNA from wheat coleoptils and have antifungal activity. Sepharose-bound wheatwin1 is able to interact with either wheat or Fusarium culmorum RNA. 3D modelling studies showed that, like ribonucleases A and T1, the action mechanism should involve two His residues, an Arg residue and an Asp residue.