In biological science, elicitins are a family of little, extremely conserved proteins secreted by phytopathogenic microorganisms belonging to the Phytophthora and Pythium species.[1] They are toxic proteins responsible for inducement a necrotic and systemic hypersensitive response in plants from the Solanaceae and Cruciferae families. Leaf necrosis provides immediate management of fungal invasion and induces general nonheritable resistance; each responses mediate basic protection against subsequent pathogen inoculation.
Proteins from the species Phytophthora, called elicitins, disagree among themselves within the amino acid sequences as well as in the ability to induce necroses and plant defense responses. The proteins from the taxonomic group of taxonomic group (with alcalescent properties) possess a bigger activity in induction of necroses than the proteins from the α-subfamily (with acid properties). Expression in Escherichia coli of the synthetic gene encoding β-cryptogenins ends up in production of a macromolecule capable of inducement necroses in tobacco leaves. The replacement of the sole aminoalkanoic acid (lysine in position thirteen by valine) reduces the death formation activity to the extent of an analogous activity of taxonomic group. The quarternary structure of β-cryptogenin still because the active centres of those proteins chargeable for induction of death formation and induction of the host plant defense responses are known.
Plants have developed a posh innate system to stop the unfold of pathogens and supply protection. So far, 2 main branches of the plant system are identified: pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI)