Regulation of Protein Synthesis in Developing Oat Seeds

燕麦贮藏蛋白球蛋白和燕麦蛋白的基因在种子形成过程中以不同的方式表达。作为种子贮藏蛋白生物化学研究的一部分，拉金斯博士对这种差异表达的原因进行了研究。初步证据已经将表达的控制缩小到了翻译过程的步骤。研究人员建议探索燕麦系统中贮藏蛋白差异合成的分子基础。他们已经构建了一系列编码燕麦蛋白和球蛋白的转录载体，并将分析合成的mRNAs在小麦胚芽提取物和非洲爪哇卵母细胞中的翻译。这一分析可能使他们能够确定导致球蛋白转录本优先翻译的mRNAs的结构特征。他们计划准备一个依赖tRNA的体外翻译系统，并评估燕麦胚乳中tRNA群体在贮藏蛋白质合成中的作用。这将使他们能够确定翻译终止或蛋白质运输是否在调节储存蛋白质积累方面发挥关键作用。深入了解贮藏蛋白质合成是如何控制的，将使我们深入了解调节种子生长发育的机制，并为未来通过基因工程改善燕麦和其他谷物的营养品质提供基础。

Genes for the oat storage proteins globulin and avenin are expressed in a differential manner during seed formation. The cause for this differential expression has been studied by Dr. Larkins as a component of his research on the biochemistry of seed storage proteins. Preliminary evidence has narrowed the control of expression to the translation step of the process. The investigators propose to explore the molecular basis for the differential synthesis of storage proteins in the oat system. They have constructed a series of transcription vectors encoding avenins and globulins and will analyze the translation of synthetic mRNAs in both wheat germ extracts and xenopus oocytes. This analysis may allow them to identify structural features of the mRNAs that cause the preferential translation of the globulin transcripts. They plan to prepare a tRNA-dependent in vitro translation system and assess the role of the tRNA population of oat endosperm in storage protein synthesis. This will allow them to determine if translation termination or protein transport play a critical role in regulating storage protein accumulation. A thorough knowledge of how storage protein synthesis is controlled will give us insight into the mechanisms regulating the growth and development of seeds and provide a basis for future improvements in the nutritional quality of oats and other cereals by genetic engineering.