Source Year: 1996

Hevein is a small cystine-rich protein with a polypeptied chain length of 43 residues. It occurs in the lutoid body fraction of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) latex, has affinity for chitin, and inhibits fungal growth. It was isolated from rubber factory effluent in a yield of about 0.7 g/litre. The elution position of the protein on reversedphase HPLC, analysis by ion-spray mass spectrometry and its one-dimentional NMR spectrum indicated that it was identical to the protein isolated from the lutoid-body fraction. The total amount of other proteins in the effluent from rubber production was less than 0.2 g/litre. This indicates that the effluent of rubber factories is a very suitable source for the isolation of a protein which may have commercial value as an antifungal agent.