The dynamics of protein body formation in developing wheat grain

Moore, K. L., Tosi, P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4171-6120, Palmer, R., Hawkesford, M. J., Grovenor, C. R. M. and Shewry, P. R. (2016) The dynamics of protein body formation in developing wheat grain. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 14 (9). PBI-00553-2015.R1. ISSN 1467-7652 doi: 10.1111/pbi.12549

Abstract/Summary

Wheat is a major source of protein in the diets of humans and livestock but we know little about the mechanisms that determine the patterns of protein synthesis in the developing endosperm. We have used a combination of enrichment with 15N glutamine and NanoSIMS imaging to establish that the substrate required for protein synthesis is transported radially from its point of entrance in the endosperm cavity across the starchy endosperm tissues, before becoming concentrated in the cells immediately below the aleurone layer. This transport occurs continuously during grain development but may be slower in the later stages. Although older starchy endosperm cells tend to contain larger protein deposits formed by the fusion of small protein bodies, small highly enriched protein bodies were also oberved in the same cell m. This suggest a continuous process of protein body initiation, in both older and younger starchy endosperm cells and in all regions of the tissue. Immunolabelling with specific antibodies shows that the patterns of enrichment are not related to the contents of gluten proteins in the protein bodies. In addition to providing new information on the dynamics of protein deposition, the study demonstrates the wider utility of NanoSIMS and isotope labeling for studying complex developmental processes in plant tissues.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/55810
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development > Department of Crop Science
Publisher	Wiley
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