Legume vicilins (7S storage globulins) inhibit yeast growth and glucose stimulated acidification of the medium by yeast cells.

Vicilin (7S storage proteins) isolated from different legume seeds were shown to inhibit yeast growth and glucose stimulated acidification of the medium by yeast cells. The degree of growth inhibition varied with the origin of vicilins. It was more than 90% for vicilins from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata, cultivar pitiuba) and equal to 65% for vicilins from Vigna radiata, in the case of Saccharomyces cerevisae. Vicilins from cowpea seeds inhibited the glucose stimulated acidification of the medium by S. cerevisae up to 60%. We have also observed that vicilins bind to yeast cells. We suggest that vicilins bind to chitin-containing structures of yeast cells and that such association could result in inhibition of H+ pumping, cell growth and spore formation. A final consequence of the yeast growth inhibition by vicilins is (probably) the formation of spores.