A new serine proteinase inhibitor, mustard trypsin inhibitor 2 (MTI-2), has been isolated from white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seed by affinity chromatography and reverse phase HPLC. The protein inhibits the catalytic activity of bovine beta-trypsin and bovine alpha-chymotrypsin, with dissociation constants (Kd) of 1.6 x 10(-10) M and 5.0 x 10(-7) M, respectively, at pH 8.0 and 21 degrees C, the stoichiometry of both proteinase-inhibitor complexes being 1:1. The amino acid sequence of MTI-2, which was determined following S-pyridylethylation, is comprised of 63 residues, corresponding to a molecular weight of about 7 kDa, and shows only extremely limited homology to other serine proteinase inhibitors.