Wound-induced trypsin inhibitor in alfalfa leaves: identity as a member of the Bowman-Birk inhibitor family.

The primary structure of the wound-inducible trypsin inhibitor from alfalfa (ATI) establishes it as a member of the Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitor family. The time course of induction of ATI in alfalfa following wounding is similar to the induction of the nonhomologous proteinase inhibitors I and II in tomato and potato leaves, and, like inhibitors I and II, ATI is induced to accumulate in excised leaves supplied with the proteinase inhibitor inducing factor from tomato leaves. The similarity of the wound induction of ATI to that of inhibitors I and II indicates that wound-regulated systems are present in Solanaceae and Leguminosae plant families that possess a common fundamental recognition system regulating synthesis of proteinase inhibitors in response to pest attacks. ATI is the first Bowman-Birk inhibitor that has been found in leaves and is the only member of this family known to be regulated by wounding.