Effect of the Molecular Weight Distribution of Glutenin Protein from an Extra‐Strong Wheat Flour on Rheological and Breadmaking Properties Through Reconstitution Studies

Ten glutenin fractions were separated by sequential extraction of wheat gluten protein with dilute hydrochloric acid from defatted glutenin‐rich wheat gluten of the Canadian hard red spring wheat (HRSW) cultivar Glenlea. The molecular weight distribution (MWD) of 10 different soluble glutenin fractions was examined by multistacking SDS‐PAGE under nonreduced conditions. Also, the subunit composition of the different glutenin fractions was determined by SDS‐PAGE under reduced conditions. The MWD of the fractions (especially HMW glutenins) varied from fraction to fraction. From early to later fractions, the MWD shifted from low to high. The early extracted fractions contained more LMW glutenin subunits (LMW‐GS) and less HMW glutenin subunits (HMW‐GS). The later extracted fractions and the residue fraction contained much more HMW‐GS (2*, 5, and 7 subunits) than the early extracted fractions. The trend in the amounts of 2*, 5, and 7 subunits in each fraction from low to high matched the extraction solvent sequence containing from lower to higher levels of HCl. The influence of glutenin protein fractions from the extra‐strong mixing cultivar, Glenlea, on the breadmaking quality of the weak HRSW, McVey, was assessed by enriching (by 1%) the McVey base flour with isolated glutenin protein fractions from Glenlea. The mixograph peak development times and loaf volumes of enriched flour were measured in an optimized baking test. The results indicated that the higher content in Glenlea glutenin of HMW‐GS with higher molecular weight, such as 2*, 5, and 7, seem to be the critical factor responsible for the strong mixing properties of Glenlea. Our results confirmed that subunit 7 occurred in the highest quantity of all the HMW‐GS. Therefore, it seems that the greater the content of larger molecular weight glutenin subunits, the larger the glutenin polymers and the stronger the flour.     

Characterization of Monomeric and Glutenin Polymeric Proteins of Hard Red Spring Wheats During Grain Development by Multistacking SDS-PAGE and Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Three cultivars of hard red spring (HRS) wheats with identical high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunit composition (5+10 type, Glu-D1d) but different dough properties and breadmaking quality were used in this study. The synthesis and accumulation characteristics of different protein fractions during grain development were examined. Samples were collected at three-day intervals from anthesis to maturity between day 10 to day 37. The nonreduced SDS-extractable glutenin aggregates of developing grains were characterized by a multistacking SDS-PAGE procedure to obtain information on the size distribution and polymerization of glutenin aggregates. The HMW to low molecular weight (LMW) glutenin subunit ratio was determined for its relationship to polymerization of the various glutenin aggregates of different molecular sizes. Glutenin proteins were quantified using an imaging densitometer. In addition, albumins and globulins, α- and β-gliadins, γ-gliadins, and ω-gliadins were separated by capillary zone electrophoresis. The results indicated that albumins-globulins, gliadins, and glutenins in developing grains were present at 10 days after anthesis or earlier. Albumin-globulins decreased in proportion, while gliadins increased in proportion during grain development. Polymerization of glutenin aggregates occurred 10 days after anthesis or earlier and increased significantly throughout the grain-filling period until maturity. Larger aggregates of glutenin increased in proportion, while smaller ones decreased in proportion during grain development. Ratio of polymers to monomers increased significantly from day 10 to day 22 of grain development and then remained constant until grain maturity. Glutenin polymers arrived at their maximum in proportion to total SDS-extractable proteins or monomers at day 22 after anthesis while the molecular size of these polymers continued to increase, as indicated by a rapid increase in proportion of HMW to LMW glutenin subunits. Significant differences were found in accumulation rates of glutenin polymers among the three cultivars. Cultivars Kulm and Grandin, with better breadmaking quality, appeared to have greater rates of accumulation and HMW subunit synthesis or formation of larger polymers than did Sharp, a cultivar with poorer quality. Significant differences were found among the three cultivars in the proportion of albumins-globulins and gliadins during grain development. However, no significant differences were found among the cultivars in the proportion of albumins-globulins, α-, β-, γ-, and ω-gliadins at grain maturity. Varietal differences in breadmaking quality were due mainly to the differences in glutenin polymers such as ratio of polymeric to monomeric proteins, molecular size distribution, and ratio of HMW to LMW glutenin subunits among wheat cultivars of 2*, 7+9, and 5+10 subunit types. The better breadmaking cultivars might be characterized with higher proportions of glutenins and greater proportion of HMW subunits in total SDS-extractable proteins than the poorer quality cultivar. However, more genotypes need to be examined.     

Effects of Wheat Cultivar and Nitrogen Application on Storage Protein Composition and Breadmaking Quality

Influences of cultivar and nitrogen application on protein concentration and composition, and amount and size‐distribution of different protein components, were investigated in 10 spring wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) with widely varying gluten strength, grown under four nitrogen fertilizer conditions. The results showed that cultivar differences in gluten strength were determined by storage protein composition, differences in total amount of HMW glutenin subunits, the glutenin‐to‐gliadin ratio, and the relationship between SDS‐soluble and SDS‐insoluble protein polymers. Negative correlations were found between protein parameters related to gluten strength and bread volume. No cultivar stability for gluten strength in relation to differences in nitrogen application was found. Thus, the gluten strength was influenced by the nitrogen application in all the investigated cultivars. Increased nitrogen supply correlated significantly to an increase in all protein components containing gliadins and glutenins, but not to those containing albumins and globulins. The increase in protein components containing gliadins and glutenins correlated significantly with an increase in protein concentration and bread volume.     

Immunocytochemical Localization of Gluten Proteins Uncovers Structural Organization of Glutenin Macropolymer

The content and composition of the disulfide‐bonded glutenin macropolymer has been shown to influence dough properties, although its structural organization is poorly characterized. The structure of the glutenin macropolymer in dough was studied using an immunolocalization transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique by localizing gliadins, low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW‐GS), and high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW‐GS) in sections of dough using antibody probes selective for each of the three classes of gluten polypeptides. Distinct differences in the distribution patterns of gliadins, LMW‐GS, and HMW‐GS were observed, which suggests that proteins have different roles in the structural organization of the gluten matrix. On the basis of the observed distribution of the proteins in dough, it is speculated that gliadins, which are randomly distributed as individual particles, fill space within the glutenin macropolymer; LMW‐GS, which are present as clusters, are speculated to form aggregated branch structures; and HMW‐GS, which are present as chains, are speculated to form a network from which the LMW‐GS branches are formed. Changes in the distribution of gliadins, LMW‐GS, and HMW‐GS in dough during mixing were also noted. Such an arrangement supports previous biochemical evidence which has established that gliadins, LMW‐GS, and HMW‐GS have specific roles in the structural organization of the glutenin macropolymer in doughs.     

Quantitative Glutenin Composition from Gel Electrophoresis of Flour Mill Streams and Relationship to Breadmaking Quality

Three samples of Nekota (hard red winter wheat) were milled, and six mill streams were collected from each sample. The 18 mill streams were analyzed separately as well as recombined to form three patent flours. The methods of multistacking (MS)‐SDS‐PAGE and SDS‐PAGE were used to separate the unreduced SDS‐soluble glutenins and the total reduced proteins, respectively. The separated proteins were quantified by densitometry. The quantity of unreduced SDS‐soluble proteins was significantly different among the mill streams at the 4% (largest molecular weight polymeric glutenins) and at the 10 and 12% (smaller molecular weight polymeric glutenins) origins of the MS‐SDS‐PAGE gels. The quantities of total HMW‐GS, LMW‐GS, 2*, 7+9, and 5+10 subunits and the ratio of HMW‐GS to LMW‐GS in polymeric protein samples isolated using preparative MS‐SDS‐PAGE and in total reduced protein extracts were significantly different among mill streams. The quantities of HMW‐GS, LMW‐GS, 2*, 7+9, and 5+10 subunits from total reduced proteins were positively and significantly correlated with loaf volume. The quantities of glutenin subunits (both HMW‐GS and LMW‐GS) from unreduced SDS‐soluble proteins were positively or negatively correlated with loaf volume at the various MS‐SDS‐PAGE gel origins but the levels of correlation were not significant. These results showed that the glutenin protein composition was different among the various mill streams and demonstrated that electrophoretic analysis of the proteins in these fractions is a useful tool for studying the variation in functional properties of flour mill streams.     

Characterization of Glutenin Protein Fractions from Sequential Extraction of Hard Red Spring Wheats of Different Breadmaking Quality

Gluten proteins from two cultivars of hard red spring (HRS) wheat with good and poor breadmaking quality were fractionated into 13 fractions by sequential extraction with dilute hydrochloric acid. Each subfraction was characterized by multistacking (MS) SDS‐PAGE under nonreducing conditions, followed by imaging densitometry. The glutenin polymers from the origins of MS‐SDS‐PAGE were analyzed by SDSP‐PAGE under reducing conditions to determine the composition of high and low molecular weight subunits. The results showed that fractions differed significantly in glutenin‐to‐gliadin ratios and in the size distribution of glutenin polymers. The earlier precipitated fractions were composed of more gliadins but fewer glutenin polymers. However, the glutenin polymers gradually increased in their relative quantities with the residue having the largest glutenin‐to‐gliadin ratio. The size distribution of glutenin polymers differed significantly from early precipitated to later fractions. The relative quantities of glutenin aggregates at the 4% origins increased significantly. The ratio of high molecular weight (HMW) to low molecular weight (LMW) glutenin subunits increased significantly from early to intermediate fractions. Between the two cultivars, significant differences were found in the ratio of HMW to LMW glutenin subunits and quantity of SDS insoluble glutenin polymers in the residue fraction with the better breadmaking quality cultivar ND706 having a greater ratio than the cultivar Sharp. It was concluded that the size distribution of glutenin polymers played an important role in determining the differences in breadmaking quality between the good and poor HRS wheat cultivars.     

Synthesis of gluten-forming polypeptides. 1. Biosynthesis of gliadins and glutenin subunits

Five winter wheat cultivars--GK Othalom (HMW-GS composition 2*, 7+8, 5+10), Ukrainka (1, 7+8, 5+10), Palotás (2*, 7+9, 5+10), K?dm?n (2*, 7+8, 5+10), and Csongrád (2*, 7+9, 2+12)--grown in Hungary and harvested in the year 2005 were studied. The biosynthesis of gluten-forming polypeptides was followed starting at the 12th day after anthesis to the 53rd. Fresh kernel weight, moisture, and dry matter content of fresh kernels and gliadin and glutenin contents were determined. Gliadin components, total amounts of HMW and LMW polypeptides, and individual HMW polypeptides were determined using a RP-HPLC technique. Although considerable quantitative differences were observed concerning the content of total protein, gliadin, glutenin, and individual gluten-forming polypeptides, the character of accumulation of protein components--determined on the basis protein mass/kernel--was the same for the all of the cultivars studied and could be presented by a sigmoid curve. Small quantities of the gliadin and glutenin monomers may be detected in early stages of kernel development, but the bulk of these proteins is synthesized in later stages of development. It is generally suggested by specialists that the formation and accumulation of glutenin polymers starts later than the synthesis of monomers. Experimental data presented in this paper confirm this suggestion and show that in the first phase of protein synthesis the monomers are in "free" form; polymeric glutenin is detected only later. HMW glutenin subunits are synthesized synchronously, and quantitatively the polypeptides coded by chromosomes D and B dominate.     

Rapid Identification of HMW Glutenin Subunits from Different Hexaploid Wheat Species by Acidic Capillary Electrophoresis

High molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW‐GS) from three hexaploid wheat species (AABBDD, 2n=6x=42, Triticum aestivum L., T. spelta L., and T. compactum L.) were separated and identified by acidic capillary electrophoresis (A‐CE) with phosphate‐glycine buffer (pH 2.5) in uncoated fused‐silica capillaries (50 μm, i.d. × 25.5 cm) at 12.5 kV and 40°C. The rapid separations (<15 min) of HMW‐GS with good repeatability (RSD < 2%) were obtained using a fast capillary rising protocol. All 17 HMW‐GS analyzed could be well separated and their relative migration orders were ranked. In particular, the good quality subunit pair 5+10 could be differentiated from poor quality subunit pair 2+12. In addition, the other three allelic pairs of 13+16, 17+18, and 7+8 subunits that were considered to have positive effects on dough properties, as well as three pairs of novel subunits 13+22*, 13*+19*, and 6.1+22.1 detected from spelt and club wheat, can also be readily separated and identified. An additional protein subunit presented in Chinese bread wheat cultivar Jing 411 and club wheat TRI 4445/75, respectively, was detected by both A‐CE and 2‐D gel electrophoresis (A‐PAGE × SDS‐PAGE), for which further identification is needed.     

Isolation and Characterization of High‐Molecular‐Weight (HMW) Gliadins from Wheat Flour

The aim of this study was to isolate high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) gliadins from wheat flour and to characterize the protein components that contribute to HMW gliadins. Wheat flour Akteur was extracted with a modified Osborne procedure, and the fraction soluble in 60% ethanol (total gliadins) was separated by gel‐permeation HPLC, yielding three fractions, GP1–GP3. GP1 (21.5%) consisted of oligomeric HMW gliadins, GP2 (15.2%) of ω5‐gliadins, and GP3 (63.3%) of ω1,2‐, α‐, and γ‐gliadins. Two‐dimensional SDS‐PAGE of HMW gliadins showed that interchain disulfide bonds were present in HMW gliadins. The molecular mass distribution of HMW gliadins determined by gel‐permeation HPLC was in a range from 66,000 to 680,000 with an average degree of polymerization of 13. Reduced HMW gliadins were further separated by preparative reversed‐phase HPLC into four subfractions (RP1, RP2, RP3, and RP4), which were characterized by SDS‐PAGE and semiquantitative N‐terminal sequencing. HMW gliadins of the wheat flour Akteur contained all types of gluten proteins: 48% low‐molecular‐weight glutenin subunits, 18% γ‐gliadins, 13% α‐gliadins, 9% ω1,2‐gliadins, 8% HMW glutenin subunits, and 4% ω5‐gliadins. We postulate that the existence of HMW gliadins can be explained by the presence of terminators, which interrupt the polymerization of glutenin subunits during biosynthesis and lead to polymers of limited size (oligomers) that are still soluble in aqueous ethanol.     

Separation and Quantification of HMW Glutenin Subunits by Capillary Electrophoresis

The use of capillary electrophoresis in SDS (SDS‐CE) for separation and quantification of HMW glutenin subunits (HMW‐GS) was investigated. HMW‐GS were precipitated with 40% acetone from 50% 1‐propanol extract of flour under reducing conditions after removal of monomeric proteins with 50% 1‐propanol. Poly (ethylene oxide) was used in the running buffer (3% w/v) for SDS‐CE. The results indicated that HMW‐GS could be well separated by SDS‐CE, including subunits 7+8, 7+9, 2+12, 5+10, and 17+18. However, HMW‐GS showed delayed migration times compared with molecular weight protein standards. Some HMW‐GS were reversed in their mobilities in SDS‐CE compared with their mobility and molecular weights by SDS‐PAGE. Therefore, the SDS‐CE was unsuitable for MW determination of HMW‐GS. A linear response was obtained from SDS‐CE of a plot of the concentration of HMW‐GS of the 40% acetone precipitate versus corrected areas for absorbance at 214 nm. Quantification of HMW‐GS for the two biotypes (subunits 5+10 vs. 2+12) of an Australian wheat cultivar Warigal confirmed the differences between the two biotypes in their quantity of HMW‐GS. Therefore, the technique could be used to quantify HMW‐GS in conjunction with SDS‐PAGE.     

Synergistic and Additive Effects of Three High Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunit Loci. I. Effects on Wheat Dough Rheology

The high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW‐GS) play an important role in governing the functional properties of wheat dough. To understand the role of HMW‐GS in defining the basic and applied rheological parameters and end‐use quality of wheat dough, it is essential to conduct a systematic study where the effect of different HMW‐GS are determined. This study focuses on the effect of HMW‐GS on basic rheological properties. Eight wheat lines derived from cvs. Olympic and Gabo were used in this study. One line contained HMW‐GS coded by all three loci, three lines were each null at one of the loci, three lines were null at two of the loci and one line null at all three loci. The flour protein level of all samples was adjusted to a constant 9% by adding starch. In another set of experiments, in addition to the flour protein content being held at 9%, the glutenin‐to‐gliadin ratio was maintained at 0.62 by adding gliadin. Rheological properties such as elongational, dynamic, and shear viscometric properties were determined. The presence of Glu‐D1 subunits (5+10) made a significantly larger contribution to dough properties than those encoded by Glu‐B1 (17+18), while subunit 1, encoded by Glu‐A1, made the least contribution to functionality. Results also confirmed that HMW‐GS contributed to strength and stability of dough.     

Synergistic and Additive Effects of Three High Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunit Loci. II. Effects on Wheat Dough Functionality and End‐Use Quality

Understanding the relationship between basic and applied rheological parameters and the contribution of wheat flour protein content and composition in defining these parameters requires information on the roles of individual flour protein components. The high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW‐GS) proteins are major contributors to dough strength and stability. This study focused on eight homozygous wheat lines derived from the bread wheat cvs. Olympic and Gabo with systematic deletions at each of three HMW‐GS encoding gene loci, Glu‐A1, Glu‐B1, and Glu‐D1. Flour protein levels were adjusted to a constant 9% by adding starch. Functionality of the flours was characterized by small‐scale methods (2‐g mixograph, microextension tester). End‐use quality was evaluated by 2‐g microbaking and 10‐g noodle‐making procedures. In this sample set, the Glu‐D1 HMW‐GS (5+10) made a significantly larger contribution to dough properties than HMW‐GS coded by Glu‐B1 (17+18), while subunit 1 coded by Glu‐A1 made the smallest contribution to functionality. These differences remained after removing variations in glutenin‐to‐gliadin ratio. Correlations showed that both basic rheological characteristics and protein size distributions of these flours were good predictors of several applied rheological and end‐use quality tests.     

Alkylation of Free Thiol Groups During Extraction: Effects on the Osborne Fractions of Wheat Flour

Wheat proteins are classified according to solubility into the so‐called Osborne fractions. Because wheat flour contains both free thiol and disulfide groups, thiol–disulfide interchange reactions are possible during extraction. Osborne fractionation of 12 different wheat flour samples was performed in the presence of N‐ethylmaleinimide (NEMI) to alkylate free thiol groups and without addition of NEMI (control). The addition of NEMI during extraction tended to decrease the content of gliadins (predominantly α‐gliadins) and caused an increase of the content of glutenins in most flour samples. Thus, alkylation of free thiol groups during extraction led to a decline of the gliadin/glutenin ratio from 2 (control) to approximately 1.5 (NEMI). NEMI and control gliadins were separated by gel‐permeation HPLC into an oligomeric subfraction (high‐molecular‐weight [HMW] gliadins) and two monomeric subfractions. In most flours (8 of 12), the addition of NEMI led to a significant increase of the content of HMW gliadins. HMW gliadins from cultivar Akteur wheat were preparatively isolated from NEMI and control gliadins and characterized by HPLC, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and N‐terminal sequencing. HMW gliadin isolated in the presence of NEMI had a significantly higher content of low‐molecular‐weight glutenin subunits and disulfide‐bound cysteine as well as a lower content of α‐gliadins and disulfide‐bound glutathione compared with the control.     

Quantitative Variation of HMW Glutenin Subunits from Hard Red Spring Wheats Grown in Different Environments

The objective of this study was to investigate the quantitative variation of HMW glutenin subunits in relation to glutenin polymers and hence breadmaking quality across different environments. Six genotypes of hard red spring (HRS) wheat were grown at seven locations in North Dakota in 1998 in a randomized complete‐block experimental design with three replicates at each location. Unreduced SDS‐soluble glutenins of flour were fractionated by multistacking SDS‐PAGE into different sized glutenin polymers, followed by SDS‐PAGE and imaging densitometry to determine the quantitative variation of HMW glutenin subunits. SDS‐insoluble glutenin polymers also were examined for their quantitative composition of HMW glutenin subunits. The results showed that the percentage of HMW glutenin subunits was significantly affected by growing locations. The quantity of HMW glutenin subunits in SDS‐insoluble glutenins was significantly and positively correlated with loaf volume. SDS‐insoluble glutenin polymers had a higher percentage of HMW glutenin subunits than did SDS‐soluble glutenins. SDS‐insoluble glutenin polymers in flour were positively and significantly correlated in proportions of both total and individual HMW glutenin subunits in total SDS glutenins. SDS‐insoluble glutenin polymers also were positively and significantly correlated with the combined proportion of HMW glutenin subunits 2* + 5. The results of this study indicated that either subunit 2* or 5 might be more important in forming a greater quantity of larger SDS‐insoluble glutenin polymers than other subunits. SDS‐insoluble glutenin polymers from different cultivars or locations could have different quantities of HMW glutenin subunits in their composition. SDS‐insoluble glutenin polymers with more HMW glutenin subunits might be larger sized than those with less HMW glutenin subunits. Environment significantly influenced the quantitative variation of HMW glutenin subunits, which in turn affected the size distribution of glutenin polymers, and hence breadmaking quality.     

Immunochemical and Electrophoretic Analysis of the Modification of Wheat Proteins in Extruded Flour Products

Antibodies specific for wheat proteins were used to identify protein fractions modified during extrusion of Hard Red Spring wheat flour (14% protein) under four different combinations of extrusion conditions (18 and 24% feed moisture and 145 and 175°C die temperature). Antibody binding was assessed on immunoblots of proteins extracted from flour and extrudates separated by SDS‐PAGE. Antibodies to high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW‐GS) and to B‐group low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW‐GS) recognized intact subunits from both flour and extrudates. Antibodies to C‐group LMW‐GS had diminished binding to extruded proteins. Glutenin‐specific antibodies also recognized protein in the extrudates migrating as a smear at molecular weights higher than intact subunits, indicating cross‐linked proteins. Antibodies recognized albumins or globulins in flour but not in extrudates, evidence that these fractions undergo significant modification during extrusion. Acid‐PAGE and antibody reaction of gliadins extracted in 1M urea and in 70% ethanol revealed total loss of cysteine‐containing α, β, γ‐gliadins but no obvious effects on sulfur‐poor ω‐gliadins, suggesting gliadin modification involves replacing intramolecular disulfides with intermolecular disulfide cross‐links. Identifying protein fractions modified during different extrusion conditions may provide new options for tailoring extrusion to achieve specific textural characteristics.     

Effect of Microbial Transglutaminase on Dough Proteins of Hard and Soft (Triticum aestivium) and Durum (Triticum durum) Wheat Cultivars

Microbial transglutaminase (MTGase), a protein‐glutamine γ‐glutamyl transferase (E.C. 2.3.2.13), catalyzes acyl transfer reactions by introducing a covalent cross‐link between l ‐lysine and l ‐glutamine residues. The use of this enzyme has been proposed as an improver to increase dough strength. The objective of this study was to assess and compare the effect of MTGase on different fractions of dough proteins found in hard, soft, and durum wheat. Three different concentrations of the MTGase (0, 5, and 10U/g of gluten) were tested. Moisture, protein, and dry gluten contents were determined for each concentration in addition to rheological measurements done with the farinograph. Following each treatment, the dough proteins were extracted and analyzed by SE‐HPLC and RP‐HPLC. Soluble polymeric protein, gliadins, albumins, and globulins were quantified in addition to the gliadin subclasses and glutenin subunit types. The combustion procedure was used to determine the amount of insoluble polymeric protein. Differences were observed in susceptibility to MTGase catalysis among the dough proteins of the cultivars studied: the cultivar Cortazar (soft wheat) was the most susceptible. The proteins of this cultivar had a characteristically higher amount of ω and α+β gliadins when compared with the other cultivars. As reported earlier, solubility of high molecular weight glutenin subunits and ω‐gliadins was reduced because of the MTGase treatment. However, all gliadin subclasses, including the γ and α+β gliadins, also participated in cross‐linking. The proteins of the cultivar Altar (durum wheat) were the least susceptible to the effects of MTGase. Albumins and globulins did not show any reduction in solubility, implying that they did not participate in cross‐linking.     

Role of Gluten and Its Components in Determining Durum Semolina Dough Viscoelastic Properties

Gluten was isolated from three durum wheat cultivars with a range in strength. Gluten was further fractionated to yield gliadin, glutenin and high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) glutenin subunits (GS). The gluten and various fractions were used to enrich a base semolina. Enriched dough samples were prepared at a fixed protein content using a 2‐g micromixograph. Mixing strength increased with addition of gluten. Dynamic and creep compliance responses of doughs enriched with added gluten ranked in order according to the strength of the gluten source. Gliadin addition to dough resulted in weaker mixing curves. Gliadin was unable to form a network structure, having essentially no effect on dough compliance, but it did demonstrate its contribution to the viscous nature of dough (increased tan δ). Source of the gliadin made no difference in response of moduli or compliance. Addition of glutenin to the base semolina increased the overall dough strength properties. Glutenin source did influence both dynamic and compliance results, indicating there were qualitative differences in glutenin among the three cultivars. Enrichment with both HMW‐GS and LMW‐GS increased overall dough strength. Source of HMW‐GS did not affect compliance results; source of LMW‐GS, however, did have an effect. The LMW‐2 proteins strengthened dough to a greater extent than did LMW‐1. Mechanisms responsible for dough viscoelastic properties are described in terms of reversible physical cross‐links.     

Quantitation of LMW‐GS to HMW‐GS Ratio in Wheat Flours

A comparison was made of methods for measuring the LMW/HMW glutenin subunit (GS) ratio for glutenin. A set of near‐isogenic wheat lines with the number of HMW‐GS varying from 0 to 5 was utilized to provide a wide range of LMW/HMW‐GS. Glutenin preparations were obtained from ground whole meal after solubilization of monomeric proteins by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or 50% propanol or by fraction collection from a preparative SE‐HPLC column. Analyses were made on the reduced glutenin from each of the three preparations by RP‐HPLC, SE‐HPLC, and SDS‐PAGE. Both solvents, DMSO and 50% propanol, extracted appreciable amounts of polymeric protein, thus casting some doubts on the accuracy of the determinations. This problem was largely avoided when the polymeric fraction was collected from the eluate of a total glutenin extract run on a preparative SE‐HPLC column. Less glutenin was removed by the two solvents for lines with a greater number of HMW‐GS or with strength‐associated HMW‐GS 5+10 coded by the 1D chromosome. Collection of the polymeric protein in SE‐HPLC, followed by separation of the glutenin subunits in RP‐HPLC, was the best method for quantitating the LMW/HMW‐GS ratio. SE‐HPLC gave a clear separation of the two groups of subunits as well as HMW albumins. RP‐HPLC has the potential advantage of being able to quantitate individual subunits.     

Quality and Agronomic Effects of Three High‐Molecular‐Weight Glutenin Subunit Transgenic Events in Winter Wheat

Quality and agronomic effects of three transgenic high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW‐GS) events were characterized in advanced‐generation breeding lines of hard winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in three Nebraska crop years. Two of the transgenic events studied, Dy10‐E and B52a‐6, overexpress HMW‐GS 1Dy10, while the third event, Dx5 +Dy10‐H, overexpresses HMW‐GS 1Dx5 and, to a much lesser extent, 1Dy10. In addition, novel proteins possessing solubility characteristics defined as HMW‐GS were present in Dx5+Dy10‐H and B52a‐6. Average grain yield of lines derived from the three transgenic events was statistically lower than that of a group of control cultivars and advanced breeding lines, but not lower than the mean values of respective nontransgenic siblings. Grain hardness was influenced by one of the events. Dx5+Dy10‐H produced harder kernels than controls, its nontransgenic siblings, and the two additional transgenic events. All three events produced doughs with unusual mixing properties, although not likely to be directly useful in commercial applications. As a consequence, loaf volumes were depressed to variable degrees by the three events. The results indicated that over‐expression of HMW‐GS could eventually lead to improved breadmaking quality by optimizing the level of overexpression or by development and characterization of additional events.     

Effect of Aelia spp. and Eurygaster spp. Damage on Wheat Proteins

The effect of Aelia spp. and Eurygaster spp. wheat bugs on the protein fractions of different wheat cultivars has been studied by size‐exclusion high‐performance liquid chromatography (SE‐HPLC) and free‐zone capillary electrophoresis (FZCE). Those methods were used to quantify and characterize the extent of protein modification. A decrease in the amount of alcohol‐insoluble polymeric proteins along with an increase in the alcohol‐soluble polymeric proteins and gliadins were observed in damaged wheat. The high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) glutenin fractions were barely detected in the incubated damaged wheat from some cultivars, which indicated hydrolysis of those proteins by the bug proteinases. In damaged wheats, both incubated and unincubated, gliadin electrophoregrams revealed the presence of some new peaks with mobilities similar to the ω gliadins. The overall results suggest that the bug proteinases are potent enzymes that appear to be nonspecific because they hydrolyze all gluten proteins.