Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitors from legume seeds have been characterized structurally. The presence of Cys-Cys in single or double chains shows a new pattern of proteins structurally not so closely related to STI. Therefore, briefly, with regard to cysteine content, plant Kunitz proteinase inhibitors may be classified into four groups: no Cys-Cys at all, one, two and more than two Cys residues. Functional properties and diversity of these proteins are also briefly discussed.
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