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Molecular heterogeneity of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Fabaceae) seed storage proteins

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Abstract

81 wild forms and 110 cultivated cowpea,Vigna unguiculata, accessions from 21 countries of Africa were screened for variability in seed storage proteins. Total seed proteins, albumin and globulin fractions were investigated by means of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and isoelectric focusing (IEF) of nonreduced and/or reduced samples in one- and two-dimensional procedures. The globulin fraction is heterogeneous in molecular weight and contains both legumin-like components and three to six nondisulfide-linked subunits. Three globulin subunits, with molecular weights 110, 76, and 41 kD were found to be composed of disulfide-linked polypeptides. In the nondisulfide-linked fraction, both cultivated and wild forms exhibited patterns of four types (A–D). This fraction contains polypeptide subunits of molecular weights 62, 56, and 52 kD for A type, 62, 56, 54, and 52 kD for B type, 62, 56, 52, and 50 kD for C type, and at least 62, 56, 54, 52, 50, and 49 kD for D type. These subunits present similar multiple charge forms but C and D types possess more basic specific 50 and 49 kD nondisulfide linked components. Major albumin fraction contains subunits of 94, 86, 32, and 24kD. No infraspecific variation was observed in albumin or legumin-like fractions. The discussion is focussed on the relations between genetic variability assessed by storage protein coding genes and phenotypic variability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IMPM, Centre de Nutrition, BP 6163, Yaounde, Cameroon

    Martin Fotso

  2. Laboratoire de Biochimie et Technologie des Aliments, Université de Bordeaux 1, Avenue des Facultés, F-33405, Talence Cedex, France

    Jean-Louis Azanza & Jacques Raymond

  3. Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Cooperation (ORSTOM), BP 11416, Niamey, Niger

    Remy Pasquet

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  1. Martin Fotso
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  2. Jean-Louis Azanza
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  3. Remy Pasquet
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  4. Jacques Raymond
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Fotso, M., Azanza, JL., Pasquet, R. et al. Molecular heterogeneity of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Fabaceae) seed storage proteins. Pl Syst Evol 191, 39–56 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00985341

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00985341

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