Legumin Synthesis in Developing Cotyledons of Vicia faba L.

Abstract

The synthesis of legumin in developing cotyledons of Vicia faba L. has been examined as a potential system for approaching the problem of differential gene expression. The pattern of legumin synthesis was determined during the growth of the cotyledon by microcomplement fixation which provided a sensitive and specific assay for legumin in the presence of vicilin. Legumin was detected even in young cotyledons. However, when the cotyledons were about 10 millimeters long, and cell division was essentially complete, there was a sharp increase in the rate of legumin accumulation.Developing seeds of Leguminosae offer an attractive system for studying the problem of differential gene expression. These seeds accumulate large amounts of globulins which consist of two high molecular weight proteins, legumin and vicilin, as defined by analytical centrifugation (11,12). Varner and Schidlovsky (29) showed globulins to be localized in protein bodies within pea cotyledons. A major attempt to use developing seeds of Leguminosae for studies of differential gene expression was first made by . They used immature seeds of Pisum sativum for analyzing the regulation of transcription and translation of chromatin preparations from cotyledon cells. More recently, Boulter and associates (2,3,9,10,25,32) have initiated extensive studies of cotyledon development in V.faba. In this paper we wish to report our analyses of legumin synthesis in relation to the growth of the cotyledon of V. faba. MATERIAIS AND METHODS Plant Material. Seeds of Vicia faba L. (cultivar unknown)were grown in soil in the greenhouse or garden. When pods were harvested, any abnormally shaped material was excluded. In a pod there were usually three or four seeds of equal size which were used and one or two smaller seeds which were

Embryonal antigens in maize caryopses: The temporal order of antigen accumulation during embryogenesis

“…3). Such a situation bears a strong resemblance to the pattern of 7S and 11S globulin deposition in growing bean cotyledons described by Kloz et al (1966) and Millerd et al (1971) …”

“…Much less data are available concerning selective gene expression and its timing in higher plants. Changes in antigen spectra seem to accompany the growth and differentiation of plant cells in vitro (Boutenko and Volodarsky, 1968) and in vivo (Wright, 1963 ;Daussant et al, 1969 ;Millerd et al, 1971;Misharin et al, 1974). However, most Abbreviations : DAP = day(s) after pollination; EA = embryonal antigen (s) of these changes appear to be of a quantitative nature (Kawashima etal., 1967;Ivanov etal., 1974) and therefore do not unambiguously prove the synthesis of new proteins.…”

“…The well-known storage proteins of seeds, e.g., the globulins in legumes and prolamins in cereals (Osborne, 1924), are especially attractive materials for developmental studies since their synthesis represents an expression of a few genes during a relatively short time period and a massive translation of products of these genes (Bonner, 1965;Millerd et al, 1971). Various immunochemical procedures were applied to investigate the accumulation of reserve globulins in the growing pea and bean cotyledons (Bonner, 1965;Kloz et al, 1966;Millerd et al, 1971) and the deposition of prolamin in the developing wheat caryopsis (Pavlov et al, 1975).…”

“…Various immunochemical procedures were applied to investigate the accumulation of reserve globulins in the growing pea and bean cotyledons (Bonner, 1965;Kloz et al, 1966;Millerd et al, 1971) and the deposition of prolamin in the developing wheat caryopsis (Pavlov et al, 1975). However, there is no reliable information concerning the formation of the tissueand organ-specific protein patterns in developing cereal embryos.…”

Deoxyribonucleic Acid and Ribonucleic Acid Synthesis during the Cell Expansion Phase of Cotyledon Development in Vicia faba L

“…In Vicia faba L. (broad bean) and Pisum sativum L. (pea), the proteins are two high molecular weight globulins, legumin and vicilin, and the corresponding proteins in the two species are immunologically closely related (19). The pattern of legumin accumulation during cotyledon development in Vicia faba has been described (19), using antibodies prepared against purified legumin. Although traces of legumin are present even in very young cotyledons, there is a sharp increase in legumin synthesis after the full complement of cells has been achieved by cell division.…”