Distribution of gluten proteins in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) grain

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Tosi, P., Gritsch, C. S., He, J. and Shewry, P. R. 2011. Distribution of gluten proteins in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) grain. Annals of Botany. 108 (1), pp. 23-35. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcr098

AuthorsTosi, P., Gritsch, C. S., He, J. and Shewry, P. R.
Abstract

Background and Aims
Gluten proteins are the major storage protein fraction in the mature wheat grain. They are restricted to the starchy endosperm, which forms white flour on milling, and interact during grain development to form large polymers which form a continuous proteinaceous network when flour is mixed with water to give dough. This network confers viscosity and elasticity to the dough, enabling the production of leavened products. The starchy endosperm is not a homogeneous tissue and quantitative and qualitative gradients exist for the major components: protein, starch and cell wall polysaccharides. Gradients in protein content and composition are the most evident and are of particular interest because of the major role played by the gluten proteins in determining grain processing quality.

Methods
Protein gradients in the starchy endosperm were investigated using antibodies for specific gluten protein types for immunolocalization in developing grains and for western blot analysis of protein extracts from flour fractions obtained by sequential abrasion (pearling) to prepare tissue layers.

Key Results
Differential patterns of distribution were found for the high-molecular-weight subunits of glutenin (HMW-GS) and γ-gliadins when compared with the low-molecular-weight subunits of glutenin (LMW-GS), ω- and α-gliadins. The first two types of gluten protein are more abundant in the inner endosperm layers and the latter more abundant in the subaleurone. Immunolocalization also showed that segregation of gluten proteins occurs both between and within protein bodies during protein deposition and may still be retained in the mature grain.

Conclusions
Quantitative and qualitative gradients in gluten protein composition are established during grain development. These gradients may be due to the origin of subaleurone cells, which unlike other starchy endosperm cells derive from the re-differentiation of aleurone cells, but could also result from the action of specific regulatory signals produced by the maternal tissue on specific domains of the gluten protein gene promoters.

KeywordsTriticum aestivum; wheat grain; gluten proteins; bread wheat; immunolocalization; protein bodies; pearling
Year of Publication2011
JournalAnnals of Botany
Journal citation108 (1), pp. 23-35
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcr098
Open accessPublished as bronze (free) open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or codeCentre for Crop Genetic Improvement (CGI)
Cereal seed composition and end use quality
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online01 Jul 2011
Publication process dates
Accepted08 Mar 2011
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP)
ISSN0305-7364

Permalink - https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/8q921/distribution-of-gluten-proteins-in-bread-wheat-triticum-aestivum-grain

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