Primary Citation of Related Structures:   1AVA
PubMed Abstract: 
Barley alpha-amylase is a 45 kDa enzyme which is involved in starch degradation during barley seed germination. The released sugars provide the plant embryo with energy for growth. The major barley alpha-amylase isozyme (AMY2) binds with high affinity to the endogenous inhibitor BASI (barley alpha-amylase/subtilisin inhibitor) whereas the minor isozyme (AMY1) is not inhibited ...
Barley alpha-amylase is a 45 kDa enzyme which is involved in starch degradation during barley seed germination. The released sugars provide the plant embryo with energy for growth. The major barley alpha-amylase isozyme (AMY2) binds with high affinity to the endogenous inhibitor BASI (barley alpha-amylase/subtilisin inhibitor) whereas the minor isozyme (AMY1) is not inhibited. BASI is a 19.6 kDa bifunctional protein that can simultaneously inhibit AMY2 and serine proteases of the subtilisin family. This inhibitor may therefore prevent degradation of the endosperm starch during premature sprouting and protect the seed from attack by pathogens secreting proteases.
Related Citations: 
Characterization, Crystallization and Preliminary X-Ray Crystallographic Analysis of the Complex between Barley Alpha-Amylase and the Bifunctional Alpha-Amylase/Subtilisin Inhibitor from Barley Seeds Vallee, F., Kadziola, A., Bourne, Y., Abe, J., Svensson, B., Haser, R. (1994) J Mol Biol 236: 368
Organizational Affiliation: 
Macromolécules Biologiques, UPR 9039, Institut de Biologie Structurale et Microbiologie, CNRS, France.