Invertase inhibitors

Invertase inhibitors are non-glycolised, heat-stable, enzymatic proteins with a molecular weight of 16 and 20 kD. They non-competitively inhibit the activity of invertase. Their occurrence in potatoes was postulated more than 40 years ago. Up to now, invertase inhibitors have been detected in a large number of plants.

Invertase inhibitors inhibit the activity of invertases by forming a reversible complex with them.

Analogous to invertases, invertase inhibitors are also regulated dependent on tissue and development. They are mainly found in storage tissues such as beetroot, sugar beet, corn or sweet potato.

The main allergen of Platanus acerifolia pollen Pla a 1 has a sequence homology to an invertase inhibitor.

1. Asturias JA et al (2003) The major Platanus acerifolia pollen allergen Pla a 1 has sequence homology to invertase inhibitors. Clin Exp Allergy 33:978-985.
2. Kitagawa M et al (2006) Reduction of allergenic proteins by the effect of the ripening inhibitor (rin) mutant gene in an F1 hybrid of the rin mutant tomato. Biosci Biochem 70:1227-1233.