Characterization of a methionine-rich protein from the seeds of Cereus jamacaru mill. (Cactaceae).
We describe here the isolation and characterization of a major albumin from the seeds of Cereus jamacaru (Cactaceae), to which we gave the trivial name of cactin. This protein has a molecular mass of 11.3 kDa and is formed by a light chain (3.67 kDa) and a heavy chain (7.63 kDa). This protein was isolated using a combination of gel filtration chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC. The amino acid composition of cactin was determined and found to resemble that of the 2S seed reserve protein from the Brazil nut, a protein remarkable for its high methionine content. The usefulness of cactin as a molecular marker in the taxonomy of the Cactaceae is discussed.
Aragão
T C
TC
Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
Souza
P A
PA
Uchôa
A F
AF
Costa
I R
IR
Bloch
C
C
Campos
F A
FA
D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008715:Methionine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
D000418:Albumins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D008715:Methionine