title: Characterization of globulins from common vetch (Vicia sativa L.).
abstract: The proteins from Vicia sativa L. (common vetch) seeds were investigated. Protein comprises approximately 11.4% of the seed fresh weight, >50.8% of which is composed by globulins and 43.6% by albumins. The globulins may be fractionated into two main components, which were named alpha-vicinin (comprising 73% of the total globulin fraction, and hence >37% of the total seed protein) and beta-vicinin. Two minor globulin components are also present, gamma-vicinin and delta-vicinin. alpha-Vicinin, the legumin-like globulin, with a sedimentation coefficient of 10.6 S, is a nonglycosylated, disulfide-bond-containing globulin, composed of a group of subunits with molecular masses ranging from 50 to 78 kDa. Upon reduction, each of these subunits releases a heavy polypeptide chain (34-66 kDa) and a light polypeptide chain (21-23 kDa). beta-Vicinin, the vicilin-like globulin, with a sedimentation coefficient of 7.7 S, is a nonglycosylated globulin that contains no disulfide bonds and consists of two major polypeptides with molecular masses of 58 and 66 kDa. gamma-Vicinin is a minor, glycosylated, disulfide-bond-containing globulin. In the reduced form, it comprises six polypeptide chains with molecular masses of 12, 19, 21, 22, 23, and 31 kDa. Finally, delta-vicinin is a minor, highly glycosylated globulin that exhibits hemagglutinating activity. It is composed of a major 47 kDa polypeptide and two minor (33 and 38 kDa) polypeptides. N-terminal sequencing of the delta-vicinin 47 kDa polypeptide revealed no homology to any other known storage protein.
authors.affiliation: Secção de Química Analítica II, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-019 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Artur R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Ricardo B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D005916:Globulins / Q000032:analysis; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000032:analysis; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D033022:Vicia sativa / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D005916:Globulins; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D010455:Peptides; D010940:Plant Proteins; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins; C015575:vicilin protein, plant