Biochemical Characterisation of a Novel Polymeric Protein Subunit from Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A new wheat endosperm protein subunit that was found in accessions belonging to different collections was identified by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Insoluble in 0·5 M NaCl, 70% ethanol, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and 50% propan-1-ol, it appeared in the pellet corresponding to the polymeric proteins along with high (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) glutenin subunits (GS). In the reduced form, it had an electrophoretic mobility between those two types of glutenin subunits. The apparent M_r of this novel protein was estimated by SDS-PAGE to be 71 000. N-terminal sequence and amino acid analyses indicated a composition similar to the ω-gliadins encoded by genes located on chromosome 1B. This protein can be ascribed to the D-subunits of LMW-GS with at least one cysteine residue that allows it to form part of the polymeric structure of glutenin, as shown by reaction with a fluorogenic reagent specific for sulphydryl groups. Fractions collected after size exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC) fractionation and further characterised by SDS-PAGE, confirm that the protein participates in the glutenin polymeric structure. An increase in its concentration was observed in fractions collected within the polymeric peak as elution time increased, implying that a larger amount of this protein is present in small size polymers. The role of this protein in the complex relationship between endosperm proteins and quality parameters is discussed in relation to its likely role as a chain terminator.     

Cloning and Expression of a LMW-i Glutenin Gene

Endosperm-specific low-molecular-weight (LMW) glutenins are an important component of the polymeric gluten and, as such, play a key role in end-use functionality. Reports of N-terminal amino acid sequences of LMW glutenin fractions revealed that they have either a methionine or a serine residue at the first position of the mature peptide. These subunits were therefore called LMW-m and LMW-s type glutenins. A gene that is predicted to encode a LMW glutenin subunit having an isoleucine amino acid residue at position one of the mature protein was amplified and cloned from extra strong bread wheat cultivar Glenlea (pGH3.1). The predicted N-terminal sequence of this gene is truncated as compared to the m-type and s-type. The gene still codes for the expected number of eight cysteine residues which are all located in the C-terminal region. We propose to call it LMW-i based on the same nomenclature. Analysis of 277 doubled haploid lines derived from a single cross showed perfect co-segregation of the cloned PCR fragment with a rare LMW glutenin called LMW-50. The gene was subcloned in an expression vector and the protein was expressed in E. coli. Western blot analysis using a prolamin-specific monoclonal antibody confirmed the co-migration of the cloned protein with LMW-50 from Glenlea.     

Polymorphism of High MrGlutenin Subunits in Triticum tauschii: Characterisation by Chromatography and Electrophoretic Methods

A large collection of accessions of the wild wheat progenitor Triticum tauschii, the donor of the D genome of Triticum aestivum, was evaluated for the variability of high molecular weight (M_r) glutenin subunits by electrophoretic and chromatographic methods. A large range of allelic variation at theGlu-D^t1 locus was found in this collection and some novel subunits were observed in both x- and y-type glutenin subunits, including x- or y-type null forms. A few accessions showed three bands in the high M_rglutenin subunit region. However, only two subunits were observed when monomeric proteins were removed before SDS-PAGE analysis of polymeric proteins. The presence of monomeric proteins in this region is discussed. Characterisation of these subunits was also carried out by reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Very different surface hydrophobicities were observed between x- and y-type subunits and in some cases it was possible to identify glutenin subunits with the same apparent molecular weight but different surface hydrophobicity. Differences in elution times that were detected when the same subunit was either reduced or reduced and alkylated were related to the number of cysteine residues present in each glutenin subunit. The newGlu-D^t1 glutenin subunits have the potential to enhance the genetic variability available for improving the quality of bread wheat (T. aestivum).     

分子生物学技术在普通小麦谷蛋白研究中的应用

小麦谷蛋白是面筋的主要成分之一，对小麦食品的加工品质起着重要作用。本文从基因序列、分子结构、多态性、遗传转化、QTL研究和MAS等方面综述了国内外有关麦谷蛋白亚基的研究进展。这些研究结果表明，麦谷蛋白的等位基因变异十分丰富，多态性高．序列之间存在很高的同源性。麦谷蛋白的基因结构分为三部分：无重复结构的N-末端和C-末端以及中部重复区域，等位基因的变异主要由基因中部重复区域的序列大小、重复次数及该区域内DNA序列的插入或缺失所造成；Cys-残基的数目和位置影响麦谷蛋白聚合体内亚基间的相互作用，是影响亚基生化特性的重要因素；应用转基因技术已将HMW-GS基因(1Ax1、1Dx5和1Dy10)导入普通小麦中，有助于进行品质改良和麦谷蛋白结构与功能的深入研究。此外，对面筋强度性状的QTL分析和分子标记辅助育种也进行了阐述。     

Purification and Characterisation of HighMrGlutenin Subunit 20 and its Linked y-type Subunit from Durum Wheat

HighM_rglutenin subunit 20 and its linked y-type subunit, present in the durum wheat cultivar Lira, were purified by preparative reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP–HPLC). Amino acid and N-terminal sequence analysis of subunit 20y confirmed that it corresponded to a y-type subunit. Moreover, the number and position of the cysteine residues in subunit 20 were determined by alkylation with the fluorogenic reagent 7-fluoro-4-sulfamoyl-2,1,3,-benzoxadiazole (ABD-F) and subsequent enzymic digestion with trypsin. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the fluorescent peptides showed that subunit 20 had only two cysteine residues, one in the N-terminal region and the other in the C-terminal domain.     

小麦贮藏蛋白特性及其遗传转化

小麦籽粒贮藏蛋白由醇溶蛋白和谷蛋白组成。醇溶蛋白在组成上以单体形式存在 ,具有高度的异质性和复杂性。它决定小麦面筋的粘性。谷蛋白是由多个亚基组成的高分子聚合体 ,决定面筋的弹性。它可分为低分子量谷蛋白亚基和高分子量谷蛋白亚基 (HMW- GS)。HMW- GS具有相似的分子结构 ,即由中央重复序列、无重复的 N端和 C端组成。HMW- GS对小麦烘烤品质起着决定性作用 ,但因 HMW- GS类型不同而对加工品质的贡献大小各异。许多 HMW- GS基因已被揭示。实践证明 ,利用基因枪法 ,将 HMW- GS基因导入普通小麦的细胞核内 ,能够达到改良小麦烘焙品质的目的。随着分子生物学技术的不断发展 ,可望从营养和加工角度来改良小麦品质的特性     

Cloning,expression and functional analysis of HMW glutenin subunit 1By8 gene from Italy pasta wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum)

Cloning and functional analysis of high molecular weight wheat glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) 1By8 from Italy durum cultivar Simeto was carried out in this study. All HMW-GS from Simeto were separated and characterized by appropriate electrophoresis methods, reversed-phased high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). The complete gene encoding 1By8 subunit was amplified by allele-specific PCR primers, including an upstream sequence of 857 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 2166 bp encoding a mature protein of 720 amino acid residues. The promoter sequence, containing -300 element (cereal glutenin gene control element) and enhancer was highly conserved among HMW-GS genes. Comparison with the sequence of subunit 1By9 from bread wheat demonstrated 99% identity with the main difference being that the 1By8 subunit possesses an additional insertion of 15 amino acid residues (QYPASQQQPA QGQQG) at position 342 and two residue substitutions at position 78 (leucine/proline) and 442 (arginine/glutamine). The molecular weight differences between MALDI-TOF-MS and deduced amino acid sequence of the coding gene revealed the possibility of some kinds of post-translational modifications present in 1By8 subunit. The protein subunit expressed in Escherichia coli showed a very similar mobility to the endogenous 1By8 of Simeto on SDS-PAGE. The function of the isolated protein on wheat processing quality was determined by 10 g Mixgraph analysis. Results demonstrated that addition of y-type HMW glutenin subunits into the base flour had significant positive effects on main mixing parameters and significant difference in effects were observed among different y-type subunits.     

Direct Evidence that the Number and Location of Cysteine Residues affect Glutenin Polymer Structure

In this study, the possible roles of three well-characterised model prolamins in the structure of the glutenin macropolymer were examined. Model prolamins were labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and incorporated into the glutenin macropolymer of a base flour using a partial reduction-oxidation scheme. The effect of incorporation of the model prolamins on dough behaviour was determined by assessing differences in polymer size distribution, mixing properties, and distribution of the model prolamins in a dough after incorporation. Using this approach, the prolamins capable of forming inter-chain disulphide bonds were shown to be incorporated into the glutenin macroÍpolymer, while prolamins that were not capable of forming inter-chain disulphide bonds were retained as monomers. The distribution of fluorescently-labelled prolamins after their incorporation into the glutenin macropolymer of the dough was examined by confocal light scanning microscopy, in order to determine the possible roles of ω-gliadins and glutenin-like subunits with varied cysteine residue compositions in the structural organisation. The role of the model prolamins was a function of the disulphide-bonding capabilities of the polypeptides. Model ω-gliadins were retained as monomers and functioned as space fillers; model glutenin-like subunits containing a single cysteine residue incorporated into the glutenin macropolymer but functioned as chain terminators; and model glutenin-like subunits containing two cysteine residues incorporated into the glutenin macropolymer and acted as chain extenders.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel variant of HMW glutenin subunit gene from the St genome of Pseudoroegneria stipifolia

The x- and y-type high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunits are conserved seed storage proteins in wheat and related species. Here we describe investigations on the HMW glutenin subunits from several Pseudoroegneria accessions. The electrophoretic mobilities of the HMW glutenin subunits from Pd. stipifolia, Pd. tauri and Pd. strigosa were much faster than those of orthologous wheat subunits, indicating that their protein size may be smaller than that of wheat subunits. The coding sequence of the Glu-1St1 subunit (encoded by the Pseudoroegneria stipifolia accession PI325181) was isolated, and found to represent the native open reading frame (ORF) by in vitro expression. The deduced amino acid sequence of Glu-1St1 matched with that determined from the native subunit by mass spectrometric analysis. The domain organization in Glu-1St1 showed high similarity with that of typical HMW glutenin subunits. However, Glu-1St1 exhibited several distinct characteristics. First, the length of its repetitive domain was substantially smaller than that of conventional subunits, which explains its much faster electrophoretic mobility in SDS-PAGE. Second, although the N-terminal domain of Glu-1St1 resembled that of y-type subunit, its C-terminal domain was more similar to that of x-type subunit. Third, the N- and C-terminal domains of Glu-1St1 shared conserved features with those of barley D-hordein, but the repeat motifs and the organization of its repetitive domain were more similar to those of HMW glutenin subunits than to D-hordein. We conclude that Glu-1St1 is a novel variant of HMW glutenin subunits. The analysis of Glu-1St1 may provide new insight into the evolution of HMW glutenin subunits in Triticeae species.     

Cloning,expression and functional analysis of HMW glutenin subunit 1By8 gene from Italy pasta wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum)

Cloning and functional analysis of high molecular weight wheat glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) 1By8 from Italy durum cultivar Simeto was carried out in this study. All HMW-GS from Simeto were separated and characterized by appropriate electrophoresis methods, reversed-phased high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). The complete gene encoding 1By8 subunit was amplified by allele-specific PCR primers, including an upstream sequence of 857 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 2166 bp encoding a mature protein of 720 amino acid residues. The promoter sequence, containing -300 element (cereal glutenin gene control element) and enhancer was highly conserved among HMW-GS genes. Comparison with the sequence of subunit 1By9 from bread wheat demonstrated 99% identity with the main difference being that the 1By8 subunit possesses an additional insertion of 15 amino acid residues (QYPASQQQPA QGQQG) at position 342 and two residue substitutions at position 78 (leucine/proline) and 442 (arginine/glutamine). The molecular weight differences between MALDI-TOF-MS and deduced amino acid sequence of the coding gene revealed the possibility of some kinds of post-translational modifications present in 1By8 subunit. The protein subunit expressed in Escherichia coli showed a very similar mobility to the endogenous 1By8 of Simeto on SDS-PAGE. The function of the isolated protein on wheat processing quality was determined by 10 g Mixgraph analysis. Results demonstrated that addition of y-type HMW glutenin subunits into the base flour had significant positive effects on main mixing parameters and significant difference in effects were observed among different y-type subunits.     

Simultaneous Isolation of Wheat High Molecular Weight and Low Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunits

A procedure was established for isolating simultaneously high molecular weight (HMW-GS) and low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) from chloroform-defatted wheat flour. Temperature conditions were optimised to obtain maximum yield and purity. A pre-extraction of gliadin was performed with 50% (v/v) propan-1-ol at room temperature. Glutenin subunits were solubilised from the residue at 60 °C with 50% (v/v) propan-1-ol containing 1% (w/v) dithiothreitol. The HMW-GS in the glutenin mixture were then precipitated selectively by increasing the propan-1-ol concentration to 60%. Upon addition of propan-1-ol to a final concentration of 85%, LMW-GS were precipitated. It was shown by densitometric scanning of SDS–PAGE gels that the isolated glutenin subunits were very pure. Furthermore, a partial separation of LMW-GS into B and C type subunits was observed when the propan-1-ol concentration was increased gradually.     

小麦低分子量谷蛋白一级结构分析

用数学统计方法和蛋白质序列分析软件对部分已测序的17种低分子量走谷蛋白亚基含氮量、氨基酸含量及一级结构序列进行比较分析。以期从氨基酸层次上揭示其结构和功能及进化上的关系．结果表明：(1)其平均含氮量为17．8％;(2)氨基酸含量基本恒定。以谷氨酰胺的含量最多。且常连接在一起;(3)存在119个保守性氨基酸残基扣两个保守性片段。一个是“QQQ-PPFSQQ”。一个是“IP-VHPSILQQLNPCKVFLQQ—C—P—AM-Q-LARSQM-QS-CHVMQQQCCQQL—QIPQQSRYEAI-AI-YSIILQEQQ”(“-”表示各序列中不同的氨基酸);(4)X84960、X84961、Y14104;X13306、U86025、U86027、U86029两组亚基序列中各具有一定程度的同源性。     

小麦高分子量谷蛋白亚基一级结构分析

为从一级结构水平揭示小麦高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基的结构、功能及其进化上的关系,利用生物信息学软件(DNAMAN)对已在GenBank数据库中登录的22个小麦高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基序列进行了分析.结果表明,这些高分子量谷蛋白亚基平均含氮量为16.186%;其各种氨基酸含量基本恒定,其中谷氨酰胺含量最高(33.74%),且主要以QQ形式连接在一起,这种结构特点可能影响小麦面粉的加工品质;同时在一级结构序列上还发现有232个保守的氨基酸位点(56个单个氨基酸座位和一些长短不同的氨基酸片段),较大的保守性氨基酸片段主要为AEGEAS-QLQCER/HEL,GSFY PG/SETTP-QQLQQ,YYPGQAS/FP/SQQ/RP/SGQG/RQQ,PGQGQQ/PG/A/YYPTS-QQ等;分别有6组共13个序列相似度均达到100%,推测这些高分子量谷蛋白亚基在进化上具有较强的保守性.     

In vitro Polymerisation of High and Low Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunits with Molecular Oxygen

None of the oxidation conditions in previous work on polymerisation of wheat glutenin subunits with inorganic oxidants allowed for complete polymerisation. We here investigated the polymerisation efficiencies of molecular oxygen (slow-acting oxidant), and potassium iodate (fast-acting oxidant). On a small scale, both polymerised the glutenin subunits very efficiently under the conditions used. Only low levels of residual monomer were left in polymerised glutenin subunit mixtures and the resulting polymers were almost exclusively of very high molecular weight. Oxygen was used in further preparative scale polymerisation. Up-scaling lowered the polymerisation efficiency and also resulted in the formation of lower molecular weight polymers. Similarly to observations in small scale polymerisation, low molecular weight glutenin subunits polymerised more efficiently than high molecular weight glutenin subunits. Preparative scale polymerisation of high and low molecular weight subunits and subsequent addition of the resulting mixture to a base flour decreased both maximum resistance and extensibility. Because the oxidised subunits contained a high level of insoluble polymer, the decrease in maximum resistance upon polymer addition was unexpected. A well-defined reason for the dough weakening effect of the polymer cannot be given.     

小麦种质资源宁春4号的研究和利用

小麦品种宁春4号不仅是中国的一个优良春小麦品种,也是一个优异的种质资源.它含有来自美洲、欧洲、亚洲、澳洲优良小麦品种的遗传物质,含有Rht2等基因,具有1、17+18、5+10优质HMW-GS组合,以及Glu-A3b、Glu-B3f优质LMW-GS组合,属于非1BL/1RS易位系小麦品种.与其他宁夏春小麦品种相比,宁春4号在不同生育期功能叶片的叶绿素含量、缓降期内的平均叶绿素含量均最高;光饱和点最小;从孕穗期至开花期旗叶光合速率日平均值、最高值最大.宁春4号与部分小麦近缘属种杂交表现出较高的可杂交性,利用其做亲本与其他小麦杂交已选育出一批优良品种.由于长期坚持对宁春4号小麦品种提纯复壮,使其在生产上28年不衰退.宁春4号是一种兼性类型的小麦品种,现已筛选出冬性宁春4号,品质有较大的改善.     

Disulphide Bonds in Wheat Gluten Proteins

Disulphide bonds play a key role in determining the structure and properties of wheat gluten proteins. Comparison of the sequences of monomeric gliadins and polymeric glutenin subunits allows the identification of conserved and variant cysteine residues. Direct disulphide bond determination demonstrates that the conserved cysteine residues present in S-rich prolamins (α-type gliadins, γ-type gliadins and LMW subunits) form intra-chain disulphide bonds while additional cysteines residues present only in the LMW subunits form inter-chain bonds with cysteines in HMW subunits and other LMW subunits. Conserved and variant cysteine residues are also present in the HMW subunits but their patterns of disulphide bond formation are less well understood. Further information on the abilities of individual cysteine residues to form intra- and inter-chain disulphide bonds has also been obtained by heterologous expression of wild type and mutant proteins inE. coliand, in the case of the HMW subunits, by examination of the patterns of dimers recovered on partial reduction of glutenin or resulting from the expression of subunits in transgenic tobacco plants. Wheat gluten proteins are folded and assembled within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum of the developing endosperm cells, where disulphide bond formation and exchange may be catalysed by the enzyme protein disulphide isomerase. Similarly, disulphide bond reduction, for example to facilitate mobilisation during germination, may be catalysed by thioredoxinh. Understanding the mechanism and specificity of disulphide bond formation in gluten is crucial for the manipulation of its functional properties by genetic engineering or chemical modification.     

小麦籽粒谷蛋白提取方法的优化与双向电泳分析

为了建立一套适用于小麦谷蛋白分析的双向电泳分析系统,得到更加清晰的双向电泳图谱,以高产优质小麦品种小偃6号和济麦20为材料,根据麦谷蛋白亚基含量较少的特点,对麦谷蛋白的提取方法以及提取过程中所用的试剂的种类、用量和处理时间等进行比较分析和优化,运用蛋白定量法测定提取样品的蛋白质含量,摸索出一套完整的用于双向电泳分析的麦谷蛋白提取和样品制备方法。利用此蛋白提取以及双向电泳方法可以获得分辨度较高的电泳分离图谱,特别是在低分子量谷蛋白区域,可分离出约200个蛋白点,可作为小麦籽粒蛋白质组研究的重要工具。同时,通过对不同品种和不同种子发育时期的麦谷蛋白双向电泳分离结果的分析,初步得到了麦谷蛋白在小麦籽粒生长发育过程中的合成积累情况,可为今后小麦发育蛋白质组学以及对小麦品质改良的研究提供一定的科学依据。     

小麦谷蛋白大聚合体含量的影响因素

小麦籽籽谷蛋白大聚合体（ＧＭＰ）的含量反映了谷蛋白聚合体的粒度分布情况,其高低与其他烘烤品质性状有密切的关系。本文对其影响因素进行了研究。结果表明,ＧＭＰ含量受Ｇｌｕ－１位点等位基因变异、亚基相对含量和环境因素等的影响。其中,Ｇｌｕ－Ａ１ｂ和Ｇｌｕ－Ｄ１ｄ对ＧＭＰ含量有正效应,而Ｇｌｕ－Ａｌｃ和Ｇｌｕ－Ｄ１ａ对ＧＭＰ含量有负效应;Ａ组和Ｃ组亚基的相对含量分别与ＧＭＰ含量正相关和负相关。ＧＭＰ含量也     

A reassessment of the electrophoretic mobility of high molecular weight glutenin subunits of wheat

The high molecular weight subunits of wheat glutenin (HMW-GS) are important for bread-making quality. Their composition is routinely identified by Tris-glycine SDS-PAGE after reduction of glutenin disulfide bonds. However, the relation between their molecular weight and, hence, their primary structure, and their mobility in Tris-glycine SDS-PAGE has proven to be ambiguous. We demonstrate a Bis-Tris SDS-PAGE procedure with a neutral, instead of alkaline, pH in the gel and running buffers. In this method commonly occurring HMW-GS from wheat migrated in the order 5 > 2 ≈ 3 > 1 > 6 ≈ 2* > 7 > 8 > 9 > 12 > 10, which is different from the order obtained in the Tris-glycine system. HMW-GS were identified by N-terminal sequencing after isolation with RP-HPLC. Protein sequences of HMW-GS were further confirmed by LC-MS/MS analyses of chymotryptic peptides after comparing the MS data to amino acid sequences in protein databases. The numbers of amino acids of HMW-GS reflected well the mobility order in Bis-Tris SDS-PAGE. The results indicate that Bis-Tris SDS-PAGE may not only be used to identify HMW-GS, but also to estimate the length of their polypeptide chain, as such avoiding previously observed anomalies in migration order.     

A reassessment of the electrophoretic mobility of high molecular weight glutenin subunits of wheat

The high molecular weight subunits of wheat glutenin (HMW-GS) are important for bread-making quality. Their composition is routinely identified by Tris-glycine SDS-PAGE after reduction of glutenin disulfide bonds. However, the relation between their molecular weight and, hence, their primary structure, and their mobility in Tris-glycine SDS-PAGE has proven to be ambiguous. We demonstrate a Bis-Tris SDS-PAGE procedure with a neutral, instead of alkaline, pH in the gel and running buffers. In this method commonly occurring HMW-GS from wheat migrated in the order 5 > 2 ≈ 3 > 1 > 6 ≈ 2* > 7 > 8 > 9 > 12 > 10, which is different from the order obtained in the Tris-glycine system. HMW-GS were identified by N-terminal sequencing after isolation with RP-HPLC. Protein sequences of HMW-GS were further confirmed by LC-MS/MS analyses of chymotryptic peptides after comparing the MS data to amino acid sequences in protein databases. The numbers of amino acids of HMW-GS reflected well the mobility order in Bis-Tris SDS-PAGE. The results indicate that Bis-Tris SDS-PAGE may not only be used to identify HMW-GS, but also to estimate the length of their polypeptide chain, as such avoiding previously observed anomalies in migration order.