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Estimation of protein quality and quantity in corn (Zea mays L.) by assaying protein in two solubility fractions

Esen, A.

Estimation of protein quality and quantity in corn (Zea mays L.) by assaying protein in two solubility fractions - United States of America : American Chemical Society, 1980.

Peer review

The protein from maize seeds can be recovered in two solubility fractions. Fraction 1 includes zeins (low quality proteins), extracted with 60% tert-butyl alcohol, and fraction 2, called nonzein (high quality proteins), includes albumins, globulins, glutelins, and others, extracted with a high pH buffer containing an ionic detergent (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and a reducing agent (2-mercaptoethanol). Protein content of the two fractions, determined by a simple Coomassie Blue R-250 dye-binding method, using comparable proteins as standards, gives an estimate of protein quantity of the sample. The zein as percent of total extractable protein or the ratio of zein to nonzein can be used to estimate the protein quality. The method offers promise as a mass-screening tool to identify the maize germ plasm with high protein and/or high quality protein.


Text in English

0021-8561 1520-5118 (Online)

https://doi.org/10.1021/jf60229a023


Approximation
Protein quality
Zea mays
Solubilization
Zein
Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
Germplasm

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