Identification and variation of glutelin alpha polypeptides in the genus Oryza assessed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and step-by-step immunodetection.

To obtain fundamental information for nutritional improvement of rice (Oryza sativa) seed proteins, the alpha polypeptides of the major storage protein glutelin varied over the genus Oryza were qualitatively and quantitatively characterized with unique methods. The polypeptides were maximally separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) composed of nonequilibrium pH gradient gel electrophoresis (NEPHGE) and higher temperature SDS-PAGE. Then the subunit for each polypeptide spot was identified with the sequential immunodetection called a step-by-step detection method, making use of highly subunit-specific antibodies. The comparative analysis showed considerable variation in the accumulation level of A-type and B-type glutelin subunits and found unknown glutelin subunits that were unable to be identified with the antibodies used. Wild species accumulating a high amount of lysine-rich B-type glutelin subunits and unknown unique subunits were identified as they might play a crucial role in nutritional quality improvement of the cultivated rice.