Catalase and antiquitin from Euphorbia characias: two proteins involved in plant defense?

Here we report the cDNA nucleotide sequences of a calmodulin-binding catalase and an antiquitin from the latex of the Mediterranean shrub Euphorbia characias. Present findings suggest that catalase and antiquitin might represent additional nodes in the Euphorbia defense systems, and a multi-enzymatic interaction contributing to plant's protection against biotic and abiotic stresses is proposed to occur in E. characias laticifers.