The Extraction and Separation of Barley Glutelins and their Relationship to Other Endosperm Proteins

Procedures are described for the extraction of unmodified andalkylated barley glutelin fractions and their subsequent separationby sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.The resulting separations are considerably clearer and sharperthan those previously published. One major polypeptide is presentin the salt-soluble and glutelin fractions in varying proportionsdepending on whether or not the salt-soluble fraction is extractedin the presence of a reducing agent. There is also variationin the amount of contaminating hordein polypeptides in the glutelinsand this appears to depend not only on the conditions used toextract hordein but also those used to extract the salt-solublefraction. Finally, variation in the glutelin pattern also occurswhen different denaturing agents or reducing agents are used. ¹ Visiting Scientist, permanent address: U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Science and Education Administration, AgriculturalResearch, Dept. of Agronomy Univ. of illinois, 1102 S. GoodwinAve., Urbana, IL 61801, USA.