Cell-free Synthesis of Globulin by Developing Oat (Avena sativa L.) Seeds

The primary storage protein synthesized during oat (Avena sativa L.) groat development is a globulin. Polysomes were isolated from oat groats 12 days after anthesis. These polysomes directed the incorporation of radioactive amino acids into protein in a cell-free protein synthesis system containing wheat germ supernatant. The Mg(2+) optimum was 4 mm, the pH optimum was 6-8, and the amount of amino acid incorporation depended on polysome concentration. Incorporation of amino acids was linear for about 10 min and approached a maximum after 20 min. Using the initiation inhibitor, T-2 toxin, it was determined that about 36% of the amino acid incorporation was due to the initiation of new polypeptide chains. The in vitro product co-electrophoresed with authentic oat groat globulin on polyacrylamide-sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gels. The cyanogen bromide peptides of the in vitro product partially corresponded with those from authentic globulin when electrophoresed on polyacrylamide-SDS gels. These data suggest that the in vitro product is primarily oat globulin. The polysome population was separated into membrane-bound and free polysomes. Membrane-bound polysomes synthesized about twice the amount of protein as did free polysomes. Products synthesized in vitro on both types of polysomes were essentially the same.