Characterization of Polypeptides Corresponding to Clones of Maize Zein mRNAS
- 1 June 1987
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Plant Physiology
- Vol. 84 (2), 291-297
- https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.84.2.291
Abstract
Zeins, the storage proteins of maize (Zea mays) are a complex group of polypeptides encoded by a large multigene family. The .alpha.-zein proteins, which account for about 70% of the total, show both size and charge heterogeneity. Although clones corresponding to several different alpha zeins have been characterized, it has not been possible to correlate these sequences with individual zein polypeptides. By translating in Xenopus oocytes RNAs transcribed in vitro from cloned zein mRNAs, we were able to identify the encoded proteins among native zeins or zeins synthesized in oocytes with total zeinm RNA. There was no correlation between the isoelectric points of these proteins and the homology of their coding DNA seqeunces, as the proteins encoded by two closely homologous cDNAs migrated with greater charge heterogeneity than those encoded by less homologous clones. In addition, the size of the proteins as determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis did not always correlate with the length of the protein deduced from the DNA sequence. The ability to match cloned zein sequences to individual native proteins will enable the genetic mapping of cloned genes as well as the analysis of their translational regulation.This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit:
- Separation of Alcohol-Soluble Proteins (Zeins) from Maize into Three Fractions by Differential SolubilityPlant Physiology, 1986
- Synthetic oligonucleotide tails inhibitin vitroandin vivotranslation of SP6 transcripts of maize zein cDNA clonesNucleic Acids Research, 1986
- Nucleotide sequence analysis of zein mRNAs from maize endosperm.Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1985
- Quantitative analysis of the accumulation of Zein mRNA during maize endosperm development.Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1985
- Sequence analysis of zein cDNAs obtained by an efficient mRNA cloning methodNucleic Acids Research, 1983
- Analysis of sequence microheterogeneity among zein messenger RNAs.Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1982
- Peptide mapping of IEF zein components from maizePlant Science Letters, 1980
- Heterogeneity of Zein mRNA and Protein in MaizePlant Physiology, 1980
- Synthesis and processing of maize storage proteins in Xenopus laevis oocytesProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1979
- Heterogeneity of zein synthesized in vitroPlant Science Letters, 1978