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Molecular Aspects of Storage Protein and Starch Synthesis in Wheat and Rice Seeds

  • Chapter
Plant Nitrogen Metabolism

Part of the book series: Recent Advances in Phytochemistry ((RAPT,volume 23))

Abstract

Seed formation in cereals is accompanied by the mobilization and transport of nitrogen from leaves and other source tissues to the developing cereal grain. Nitrogen enters the seed primarily as amino acids, of which glutamine appears to be the predominant constituent.1 It has been estimated that about 50% of the total nitrogen available in leaf and stem tissue of wheat is catabolized and transported to the developing grains2 where it is converted mainly into storage proteins. Storage proteins (defined here as any protein which serves as a nitrogen store and is packaged into protein bodies) are synthesized during the mid-stages of seed development and normally constitute about 80–90% of the total protein present in seeds. These proteins are subsequently utilized by the young developing seedling as a source of nitrogen and carbon and sometimes sulfur.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, 99164-6340, Pullman, Washington, USA

    Thomas Okita, Arun Aryan, Christopher Reeves, Woo Taek Kim, Douglas Leisy, Jim Hnilo & David Morrow

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of lowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

    Jonathan E. Poulton

  2. University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

    John T. Romeo

  3. University of California, Davis, California, Davis, USA

    Eric E. Conn

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Okita, T. et al. (1989). Molecular Aspects of Storage Protein and Starch Synthesis in Wheat and Rice Seeds. In: Poulton, J.E., Romeo, J.T., Conn, E.E. (eds) Plant Nitrogen Metabolism. Recent Advances in Phytochemistry, vol 23. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0835-5_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0835-5_9

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