The synthesis and deposition of the prolamin storage proteins (secalins) of rye

The synthesis and deposition of the endosperm storage proteins of rye, usually termed secalins, has been studied. The rate of accumulation of secalin in developing rye grain was at a maximum between 3 and 5 weeks after anthesis. Some changes in the proportions of the four major groups of secalin polypeptides were observed during maturation, notably an increase in γ-secalins of Mr 75k and a decrease in ω-secalins. In-vitro translation of mRNA fractions prepared from 4-week-old endosperms showed that secalin polypeptides were synthesised on membrane-bound polysomes. The secalin products were identified by their mobilities on SDS-PAGE and their relative incorporation of radioactive lysine, glycine, proline, leucine and methionine. Protein bodies prepared by sucrose density ultracentrifugation contained reduced amounts of γ-secalins of Mr 40k and ω-secalins compared with the total secalin fraction, but these components were present in the expected amounts when 1.0 M NaCl was added to the buffers. Treatment of the protein bodies with proteinase-k resulted in the digestion of their contents regardless of the presence of NaCl, indicating that the surrounding membrane was incomplete. It was concluded that the NaCl reduced the loss of secalins from the protein bodies by decreasing secalin solubility rather than by affecting the integrity of the protein body membrane. The results reported for the synthesis and deposition of secalins are consistent with the results of previous studies on the prolamins of wheat and barley.