Abstract: The abaxial epiderm of Vicia faba L. was chosen to prepare the crude extract of ABA binding protein (ABA-BP). The activity of ABA-BP was dependent on different extraction methods. The specific binding capacity of ABA-BP extracted with 0.5% Triton X-100 (binding activity (B) = 0. 487 nmoL/g protein) was higher than that with extracted cold acetone (0. 325 nmol/g protein) or (NH4)2SO4(0. 223 nmol/ g protein). The activity duration of ABA-BP extracted with Triton X-100 (60% Bmax after 40 h) was longer than that with cold acetone (30% Bmax after 10 h). The ABA-BP activity of binding ABA was sensitive to pH change with an optimum pH of 6.5. The ABA-BP specific binding activity decreased quickly under high concentration of NaC1 ( > 300 mmoL/L), but increased 12% with 5 mmol/L KC1. Some divalent cations like Ca2+ and Mg2 + were required for enhancing the ABA-BP activity. These optimum conditions are primordial for ABA-BP purification.

Key words: ABA, Binding proteins, Reaction conditions, Vicia faba abaxial epiderm