Molecular cloning of a gene encoding a seed-specific protein with nutritionally balanced amino acid composition from Amaranthus.

Abstract

An albumin with a well-balanced amino acid composition and high levels of the essential amino acids was purified to homogeneity from the mature seeds of Amwuntkw hypochondriacus. The

Next-generation protein-rich potato expressing the seed protein gene AmA1 is a result of proteome rebalancing in transgenic tuber

“…During the past decade, several potential candidate genes have been targeted for the nutritional improvement of protein content in crops, namely: Brazil nut 2S albumin (13), AmA1 (Amaranth Albumin 1) (14), β-phaseoline (15), HS-7 zein (3), cruciferin (16), sunflower seed albumin (17), and S-rich zein (18). However, excepting AmA1 (14,19,20), introduction of these genes in target plants has often resulted in an increase in one of the amino acids at the expense of others, leading to an imbalance of the amino acid profile in transgenic crops.…”

A Secretion Signal Is Present in the Collybia velutipes Oxalate Decarboxylase Gene

“…Proteins were transferred to Hybond-C (Amersham) nitrocellulose membrane (16). Immunodetection was performed using anti-oxalate decarboxylase and anti-AmA1 antibodies as previously described (8,16,17).…”

“…We tested this OXDC secretion signal sequence to secrete, a seed storage protein AmA1 from Amaranthus hypochondriacus (17) and ␤-galactosidase from E. coli. The cells expressing AmA1 without secretion signal was present intracellularly (unpublished data) whereas with OXDC signal peptide as fusion, was 60% secreted out into the medium (data not shown).…”

Antihypertensive activity of AMC3, an engineered 11S amaranth globulin expressed in Escherichia coli, in spontaneously hypertensive rats

“…Amino acid composition of this protein corresponds closely to that of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended protein standard for optimum human nutrition (Raina & Datta, 1992). Amarantin is one of the most predominant storage proteins in Amaranthus hypochondriacus seed; this is proteolytically processed in seed vacuole into an acidic and a basic subunit, both linked by disulfide bridge.…”