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。拉金斯博士对这种差异表达的原因进行了研究，作为他对种子储存蛋白生物化学研究的一个组成部分。初步证据已经将表达的控制范围缩小到翻译过程的步骤。研究人员建议探索燕麦系统中储存蛋白差异合成的分子基础。他们已经构建了一系列编码蛋白和球蛋白的转录载体，并将分析合成mrna在小麦胚芽提取物和爪蟾卵母细胞中的翻译。这种分析可能使他们能够识别导致球蛋白转录物优先翻译的mrna的结构特征。他们计划制备tRNA依赖的体外翻译系统，并评估燕麦胚乳tRNA群体在储存蛋白合成中的作用。这将使他们能够确定翻译终止或蛋白质转运是否在调节储存蛋白质积累中起关键作用。对贮藏蛋白合成控制机制的深入了解将有助于我们深入了解种子生长发育的调控机制，并为今后通过基因工程提高燕麦和其他谷物的营养质量提供基础。

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.