Proteinase inhibitors of the Kunitz family in fallow deer organs: a comparative study.

Protein proteinase inhibitors belonging to the Kunitz family have been isolated and characterized in several fallow deer organs. In all the organs studied we found the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) while its isoforms, previously isolated and characterized in organs of other ruminant species (bovids and ovids), were absent. In the kidney, in addition to BPTI, active fragments of the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor were also isolated. The distribution of Kunitz-type inhibitors in different species of ruminants is compared and discussed on the basis of the expression of their encoding genes.