Identification of Homologous Globulins from Embryos of Wheat, Barley, Rye and Oats

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Abstract
Total globulins from embryos and endosperms of barley, wheat, rye, and oats were separated by SDS-PAGE under reducing and non-reducing conditions. The preparations from embryos of all four cereals contained major groups of bands with Mr's of 50-60000, which were not affected by reduction. These have been characterized previously from oats and shown to correspond to subunits of the 7S storage globulin. Immunochemical relationships between these bands (and others with Mr's between 40000 and 70000) were demonstrated by immunodiffusion and ‘Western Blotting’ using antiserum raised against the major subunits of the oat 7S globulins. The 7S globulins were also prepared from hand-dissected embryos of the four cereals using sucrose density ultracentrifugation. Their amino acid compositions were broadly similar, but differed from those of the 7S vicilins of legumes. It is concluded that structurally-related 7S globulins are present in the embryos of the four species of cereals.