title: Induced protein polymorphisms and nutritional quality of gamma irradiation mutants of sorghum.
abstract: Physical and biochemical analysis of protein polymorphisms in seed storage proteins of a mutant population of sorghum revealed a mutant with redirected accumulation of kafirin proteins in the germ. The change in storage proteins was accompanied by an unusually high level accumulation of free lysine and other essential amino acids in the endosperm. This mutant further displayed a significant suppression in the synthesis and accumulation of the 27kDa γ-, 24kDa α-A1 and the 22kDa α-A2 kafirins in the endosperm. The suppression of kafirins was counteracted by an upsurge in the synthesis and accumulation of albumins, globulins and other proteins. The data collectively suggest that sorghum has huge genetic potential for nutritional biofortification and that induced mutations can be used as an effective tool in achieving premium nutrition in staple cereals.
authors.affiliation: CSIR Biosciences, Meiring Naude Road, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. Electronic address: LMehlo@csir.co.za.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mehlo
authors.forename: Zodwa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mbambo
authors.forename: Souleymane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bado
authors.forename: Johnson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Sydwell M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Moagi
authors.forename: Sindisiwe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buthelezi
authors.forename: Stoyan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stoychev
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chikwamba
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D056625:Endosperm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays; D009753:Nutritive Value / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010641:Phenotype; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000528:radiation effects*; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D045868:Sorghum / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D010940:Plant Proteins; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins; C080615:kafirin protein, Sorghum bicolor
keywords: Amino acid; Gamma irradiation; Induced mutations; Nutritional quality; Sorghum