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Protein Characterization of Protein Bodies from Cotyledons of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC

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Abstract

Seeds of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (Fabaceae) were analyzed for protein composition of protein bodies isolated from cotyledons. Protein bodies were successfully separated by Lympholyte and those of dry seeds, observed by scanning electron microscope, were elliptical or spherical in shape with a diameter of 5–12 μm. Protein content in dry seed protein bodies was 10.6 mg/g dry weight. Globulin was the largest protein fraction isolated (62.5 %), followed by albumin (18.3 %), glutelin (15.8 %) and prolamin (3.4 %). The prolamin fraction and high glutelin content are uncommon in legumes. SDS-PAGE of albumins, globulins, prolamins and glutelins provided different band numbers and molecular weights under reducing and non reducing conditions and suggested that the albumin fraction is rich in disulphide bonds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Evolutiva, Università di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Lorenza Bellani & Simonetta Muccifora

  2. Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Sc. Endocrino-Metaboliche e Biochimica, Università di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Stefania Giglioni

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  1. Lorenza Bellani
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  2. Stefania Giglioni
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  3. Simonetta Muccifora
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Correspondence to Lorenza Bellani.

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Bellani, L., Giglioni, S. & Muccifora, S. Protein Characterization of Protein Bodies from Cotyledons of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 68, 47–51 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-012-0331-z

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