[Fine structure of seed storage protein granules such as protein bodies and/or aleurone grains (author's transl)].
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BACKGROUND: The consumption of oats has rapidly increased due to their exceptional nutritional value. However, concerns over genetic erosion have emerged as oat breeding programs rely on a highly limited genetic pool. This study aimed to expand the genetic diversity pool of oats by collecting wild oat (Avena fatua L.) populations in South Korea and assessing their genetic diversity and seed storage protein patterns. RESULTS: A total of 237 A. fatua individuals were collected in 2022 from eight regions in the southwestern coastal areas of South Korea. Genetic diversity and seed storage protein patterns were analyzed using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The GBS analysis identified 20,836 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) based on regional populations revealed that 40.9% of the genetic variation was attributed to differences among populations, while 59.1% was within populations, indicating high genetic differentiation within regional populations. Subsequent population structure analysis and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) both stated the formation of two distinct genetic groups, with an AMOVA value of 70.9% between the groups, suggesting a high level of genetic variation. Pairwise FST analysis was conducted to compare the genetic differentiation between two populations, revealing that Jindo and Jangheung exhibited the highest level of genetic differentiation (FST = 0.795) among the geographic groups. Seed storage proteins were analyzed using SDS-PAGE, and the patterns were grouped using k-means clustering. A comparison between the groups based on protein patterns and those based on genetic variation revealed no significant correlation. CONCLUSION: This study provides data on the genetic diversity of A. fatua, a wild relative of cultivated oats, aimed at expanding the genetic pool of oats for future breeding programs. These findings are expected to be a foundational resource for oat breeding and genetic improvement efforts.
Isoflavonoids are key secondary metabolites in leguminous plants that play essential roles in plant physiology and provide significant health benefits to humans. In the isoflavone biosynthetic pathway, isoflavone synthase (IFS) catalyzes the conversion of naringenin and liquiritigenin into the bioactive isoflavones genistein and daidzein. This study aimed to enhance genistein and daidzein accumulation in soybean seeds through genetic engineering. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring the binary vector pCAMBIA1301 containing GmIFS under the control of a seed-specific promoter (Gmβ-conglycinin) was used to transform modified half-seed explants of soybean cv. JS335. Hygromycin-B-resistant plants were regenerated, hardened, and confirmed by histochemical GUS assay. Molecular analysis by PCR validated the presence of the GmIFS transgene, yielding a 700 bp amplicon. Biochemical analysis revealed that seeds of T₀ transgenic plants showed a 1.53-fold increase in total phenolic content and a 3.67-fold increase in flavonoid content compared to non-transformed controls. Antioxidant assays demonstrated significantly higher DPPH radical-scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) in GmIFS-overexpressing plants. HPLC analysis further indicated that transgenic seeds accumulated, on average, 4.07-fold higher daidzein and 1.75-fold higher genistein levels relative to control plants. qRT-PCR analysis showed significantly elevated GmIFS expression in immature cotyledons, mature cotyledons, and seeds of transgenic plants. Overall, these results demonstrate that GmIFS overexpression effectively enhances isoflavone production in soybean seeds, highlighting the potential of metabolic engineering of biosynthetic pathway genes to improve nutritional quality.
Preruminant calves fed heated soyabean flour produced high titres of serum antibodies with specificity mainly for soyabean glycinin and beta-conglycinin. Various soyabean products that had been processed by different methods were analysed by immunological techniques to determine their content of glycinin and beta-conglycinin in soluble and undenatured form. The presence of such proteins in soyabean flour fed to preruminant calves was associated with the development of digestive disturbances and the production of serum antibodies. It is suggested that the suitability of soyabean products for calf nutrition could be assessed by simple immunological methods to detect these constituents.
Poly(A)-containing RNA has been isolated from the cotyledons of soybean seeds by adsorption on a poly(U)-Sepharose column. Approximately 0.15% of the total soybean RNA applied bound to the column. The bound RNA (poly(A)-containing RNA) was shown to be mRNA by its ability to serve as template in a cell-free system derived from wheat germ. Poly(A)-containing RNA was polydisperse, migrating from approximately 50,000 to 700,000 daltons with a mean of 150,000 daltons in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The size of the poly(A) portion of this RNA was in the range of 55 to 290 nucleotides. The adenylic acid content of the presumed poly(A) fragment was about 95%. The radioactive products of translation directed by the poly(A)-containing RNA in the wheat germ cell-free system were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by immunoprecipitation using antisera against beta-conglycinin and glycinin. The results of this investigation show that mRNAs for the subunit proteins of the major components of a soybean storage protein exist in the poly(A)-containing RNA preparation obtained from the cotyledons of dry soybean seeds.
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Thiamin, an essential micronutrient, is a cofactor for enzymes involved in the central carbon metabolism and amino acid pathways. Despite efforts to enhance thiamin content in rice by incorporating thiamin biosynthetic genes, increasing thiamin content in the endosperm remains challenging, possibly due to a lack of thiamin stability and/or a local sink. The introduction of storage proteins has been successful in several biofortification strategies, and similar efforts targeting thiamin have been performed, leading to a 3-4-fold increase in white rice. However, only one thiamin-binding protein (TBP) sequence has been described in plants, more specifically from sesame seeds. Therefore, we aimed to identify and characterize TBPs, as well as to evaluate the effect of their expression on thiamin concentration, using a comprehensive approach integrating in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods. We identified the sequences of putative TBPs from Oryza sativa (Os, rice), Fagopyrum esculentum (Fe, buckwheat), and Zea mays (Zm, maize) and pinpointed the thiamin-binding pockets through molecular docking. FeTBP and OsTBP contained one pocket with binding affinities similar to the Escherichia coli TBP, a well-characterized TBP, supporting their function as TBPs. In vivo expression studies of TBPs in tobacco leaves and rice callus resulted in increased thiamin levels, with FeTBP and OsTBP showing the most pronounced effects. Additionally, thermal shift assays confirmed the thiamin-binding capabilities of FeTBP and OsTBP, as observed by the significant increases in melting temperatures upon thiamin binding, indicating protein stabilization. These findings offer new insights into the diversity and function of plant TBPs and highlight the potential of FeTBP and OsTBP to modulate thiamin levels in crop plants.
BACKGROUND: Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. is a perennial herb whose seed aging during storage significantly reduces germination rates, limiting industrial-scale production. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative damage is a key driver of seed aging, but the underlying mechanisms in Saposhnikovia divaricata remain unclear. RESULTS: Suppression of the UBC1 gene family reduces the activity of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes, leading to dysfunction of the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway, which in turn decreases protein degradation efficiency and causes the accumulation of damaged proteins. Transcriptome analysis revealed predominant downregulation of genes crucial for seed physiological maintenance. By the fourth year of storage, germination dropped sharply to 30.67%, accompanied by embryo cavitation. Downregulation of ribosome pathway genes hindered ribosome assembly and protein synthesis, while suppression of endoplasmic reticulum protein processing genes led to unfolded/misfolded protein accumulation and intensified cellular stress, accelerating aging. Proteomic analysis showed increased total differential and antioxidant-related proteins. ROS content fluctuated with storage time: peroxyl radicals peaked in year two (5.68 RFU/mg), whereas hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide were highest in year four (0.0655 pg/mL and 0.0946 pg/mL, respectively), with significant differences across periods. Elevated membrane-related proteins, increased electrical conductivity, and malondialdehyde content (maximum 54.30 nmol/g at year four) confirmed oxidative membrane damage. ROS-induced stress promotes protein misfolding, and reduced UBC1 expression is associated with impaired clearance of misfolded proteins by the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first integrated transcriptomic and proteomic insight into UBC1 deficiency-mediated seed aging in Saposhnikovia divaricata. The findings enhance molecular understanding of seed aging and offer new directions for improving seed storage and viability.
High molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) are critical grain storage proteins in wheat, which govern its unique processing quality. A HMW-GS 1Dy10 allele variant (1Dy10-m619SN), carrying a serine-to-asparagine substitution at the 619th residue, undergoes partial posttranslational cleavage. This modification leads to improved cookie-making quality. However, the enzymes mediating this cleavage remain unknown. In this study, we identified vacuolar processing enzymes (VPEs) as candidates for 1Dy10-m619SN processing using TurboID-based proximity labeling and RNA-seq analysis. In vitro cleavage assays confirmed that VPEs catalyzed 1Dy10-m619SN cleavage. Phylogenic analysis revealed that there are two seed-type VPEs in wheat, TaVPEI and TaVPEII, with TaVPEI being further subdivided into TaVPEI-1, TaVPEI-2, and TaVPEI-3. Despite sharing conserved catalytic domains, these isoforms display distinct temporal expression patterns, with TaVPEI-1 expression showing the strongest correlation with the posttranslational cleavage of 1Dy10-m619SN. TaVPEI-1 protein is localized to the vacuole, the well-known deposition site for HMW-GSs. Overexpression of TaVPEI-1 in wheat enhances the 1Dy10-m619SN cleavage. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the seed-type VPEs in wheat are responsible for the posttranslational cleavage of 1Dy10-m619SN, which provides new insights into the molecular basis of wheat's unique processing quality.
Previous investigations indicated that the soybean (Glycine max) SUGARS WILL EVENTUALLY BE EXPORTED TRANSPORTER10a/b (GmSWEET10a/b) genes promote oil accumulation, while inhibiting protein accumulation in seeds. To clarify the mechanisms modulated by GmSWEET10a/b in mediating the oil and protein accumulations in soybean seeds, an integrated comparative multiomics was conducted using the double gmsweet10a,b mutant and wild-type (WT) embryos. Spatial metabolomic analysis revealed that gmsweet10a,b embryos were surrounded by a sugar-reduced seed coat and experienced a sugar-starvation state in embryonic tissues in vivo. The decreased sugar content in the gmsweet10a,b embryos reduced the availability of carbon skeletons required for oil synthesis and was associated with decreased expression levels of genes involved in sucrose metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and triacylglycerol assembly. Meanwhile, the expression of genes encoding storage protein was induced in gmsweet10a,b embryos, when compared with WT. These changes resulted in decreased oil content and increased protein content in gmsweet10a,b embryos versus WT. In vitro sugar-starvation assay also supported the suppression of fatty acid biosynthesis and the enhanced storage protein accumulation in developmental embryo under sugar-starved conditions. Furthermore, the knockout of SUCROSE TRANSPORTER 1 (GmSUT1), which was upregulated in gmsweet10a,b embryos, significantly decreased the sugar level, resulting in lower oil content but higher protein content in gmsut1 embryos than WT ones. Our findings provided a mechanistic understanding of the modulation of sugar transport between seed coat to embryo by both GmSWEET10a/b and GmSUT1, which plays a pivotal role in balancing oil and protein accumulations in soybean mature seeds.
Potential utilization of cottonseeds as edible food sources accentuated the need for research on their composition. Studies included evaluation of cottonseed composition; e.g., seed grade, protein, amino acids free fatty acids, oil, fatty acids, cyclopropenoid fatty acids, total gossypol, differential settling as an indicator of potential performance of cottonseed in the liquid cyclone process, and extractability of nonstorage and storage proteins and their gel electrophoretic properties. These extended studies were used to develop a data base on composition of various cottonseed cultivars grown in different locations of Texas that resemble environmentally most of the regions of the United States cotton belt. Tests showed that most constituents of cottonseed vary; statistically significant variables include cultivar, location, and their interaction term, cultivar x location. These data suggest that breeding and agronomic practices could be used to alter cottonseed composition. Although protein quantity of cottonseed from various cultivars differ and can be influenced by agronomic practices, this variability is not reflected in quality of cottonseed protein as detected by gel electrophoretic techniques. Analyses showed that both genetic and agronomic factors influenced formation of edible flour with high protein and low free gossypol content.
Efficient nutrient mobilization from seed storage tissues is essential for seedling establishment, particularly in legumes such as Lupinus albus (white lupin), which thrive in nutrient-poor soils. This study investigates the role of cotyledons in nitrogen (N) and mineral remobilization after germination during their transition from storage organs to photosynthetically active tissues, including the metabolic challenges posed by the coexistence of these two functions in epigeal germination. We cultivated white lupin seedlings under nitrogen-deficient conditions, analyzing cotyledon composition and function over 28 days. Our results indicate that 60% of cotyledon-stored proteins are degraded within the first 8 days, with free amino acids transiently accumulating before being redistributed to support growth. The progressive depletion of cotyledon reserves was accompanied by structural and metabolic changes, including an increase in photosynthetic proteins. However, cotyledon photosynthetic capacity remained lower than that of true leaves, suggesting a transient role in energy metabolism. The loss of cotyledons before day 12 significantly impaired seedling development, emphasizing their critical contribution to nitrogen, phosphate, and micronutrient supply during early growth. Comparative proteomic analysis revealed dynamic shifts in nutrient transport, amino acid metabolism, and stress response pathways following cotyledon removal. These findings underscore the significance of cotyledon nutrient remobilization in legume adaptation to low-fertility soils and highlight potential targets for breeding strategies aimed at improving nutrient use efficiency. By optimizing cotyledon nutrient composition and function, future breeding efforts could enhance seedling vigor, reduce fertilizer dependency, and improve the nutritional value of lupin-based foods.
Vicilin peptidohydrolase, the protease that hydrolyzes the reserve proteins in the cotyledons of mung bean (Vigna radiata) seedlings, has been localized intracellularly by immunofluorescence microscopy using monospecific antibodies against the enzyme and rhodamine-coupled goat-anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G's. The enzyme can first be visualized after 3 days of seedling growth and is associated with small foci within the cytoplasm of the storage parenchyma cells farthest from the vascular bundles. On the 4th day of growth, the protease is also present in the numerous large protein bodies within these cells. Vicilin peptidohydrolase is known to be synthesized de novo starting on the 3rd day of growth. Our observations are therefore consistent with the interpretation that the enzyme is synthesized in the cytoplasm and subsequently transported to the protein bodies.
Maize endosperm, 30 days after pollination is actively synthesizing zein, a storage protein containing high amounts of glutamine. leucine and alanine. Endosperm tRNAs have a higher accepting activity than embryo tRNAs for these three amino acids, but not for some other (control) amino acids. This increase in accepting activity is accompanied by a change in the distribution of the isoaccepting tRNA species corresponding to these three amino acids, but not of the isoacceptors corresponding to some other (control) amino acids. These results are in favor of the theory of functional adaptation of tRNA population.
Cytochemical changes during the early development of maize caryopsis are reported. Changes in the localization of different reserve substances (e.g. polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids and lipids) and enzymes (acid phosphatase, esterase, lipase, phosphorylase, succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase and peroxidase) have been studied in unfertilized and fertilized ovules. Before pollination very feeble enzyme activity (acid phosphatase, succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase and peroxidase) was observed. Reserve substances were present in low amounts before pollination. Pollination stimulated the accumulation of several substances and enzymes in the tip of the nucellus, micropylar zone. Just prior to, during and after fertilization, the cells in the micropylar zone had strong reaction for several enzymes indicating temporary enhancement of metabolic activity in the micropylar zone. The role of antipodals in the storage of reserve food products and nutrition of embryo and early stages of endosperm development is discussed. The pattern of enzymatic changes within the embryo sac reflected the biochemical changes operative during quiescent and active stages. The nucellus of Zea mays contains many enzymes required for hydrolysis of reserved food substances. A role of acid phosphatase in autolysis of nucellar cells, after fertilization is suggested. Post-fertilization increase in the activity of enzymes and accumulation of reserve materials is interpreted as reflecting a presumed increase in the metabolic rate relative to growth and differentiation.
This study investigates how phosphorus (P) levels are associated with carbon-nitrogen metabolism in wheat grains. Optimal P application (105 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) was associated with enhanced pericarp-endosperm coordination, increased carbon allocation to the endosperm, and early B‑type starch granule formation. Starch granule‑associated protein (SGAP) proteomics showed that optimal P upregulated cytoskeletal and starch‑synthesis proteins bound to starch granules in the endosperm, while reducing storage protein degradation‑related SGAPs in the pericarp. These metabolic adjustments were correlated with increased grain‑filling intensity and duration, and were associated with the highest theoretical grain weight (50.70 mg). Furthermore, optimal P was associated with enrichment of amino acid biosynthesis pathways and with higher levels of essential amino acids (e.g., lysine and threonine by 17.0--26.8%) and an improved essential amino acid profile without altering total protein content. In contrast, excessive P (210 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) was associated with disrupted inter‑tissue coordination but did not simply impair grain filling; instead, HP corresponded to a unique developmental program: it was linked to an early burst of C‑type starch granules (0∼5 µm) at 7 DPA, yet by maturity achieved the highest proportion of large A‑type granules (56.8%) and the highest total starch content (63.5%), together with elevated endosperm phosphorus at 14 DPA and enrichment of spliceosome‑related pathways. HP also showed higher levels of several functional amino acids (glutamate, cysteine, histidine, proline) compared to P0. However, HP was associated with a higher gliadin/globulin ratio and did not improve grain yield. These findings suggest that phosphorus supply is associated with grain quality through tissue‑specific metabolic reprogramming, and that precision management-rather than maximized application-warrants consideration for optimizing both yield and processing quality.