Abstract: The invention concerns a method for screening and selecting parasiticides (apicomplex phyllum parasites) and/or herbicides and the uses thereof. Said method consists in incubating a substance to be tested with a MGDG synthase and measuring the specific enzymatic activity, after said incubation. The invention also concerns the use of MGDG synthase or a plant isolated plastid membrane for selecting or screening the products inhibiting the activity of the MGDG synthase, capable of being used as active principles against apicomplex parasites and/or of being used as herbicides.

Abstract: A biotinylated protein is disclosed which is obtained from the seeds of leguminous plants and which is expressed exclusively in the seeds and in no other tissue. The protein comprises at least one subunit of 50-85 kDa. Levels of the protein decrease rapidly as germination of the seed progresses. The protein does not exhibit the activity of either acetyl-CoA carboxylase or 3-methyl crotonyl-CoA carboxylase. In the pea, Pisum sativum, the protein is designated SBP65 and comprises 6-8 identical subunits, each having a molecular weight of about 65 kDa. The protein may be a useful marker for determining the germination stage of seeds.