Basic Subunit of Glutelin, Rice Major Storage Protein, has N-Linked Sugar Side Chain

Abstract

The basic subunit of glutelin from rice dry seeds were shown to have N-linked sugar chains by lectin staining with PHA-E₄, WGA and Con A. NaIO₄ and N-glycanase treatments also provided the evidences of N-linked sugar chains. The purified basic subunit was applied to NEPHGE and eight isoforms of it were separated. The fractionated eight isoforms were shown to be nearly homogeneous by C₁₈-silica column chromatography. Each was subject to lectin staining. The eight isoforms were hybridized with PNA, PHA-E₄ and Con A. This lectin staining indicated that each of the isoforms of the basic subunit had N-linked sugar chain. This is the first report showing the occurrence of N-linked sugar chain in isoforms of glutelin basic subunit.