Biochemical and Physiological Changes in Seeds of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) During Ripening and Ecological Adaptations to Climate : II. Molecular Weight Determinations of Seed Proteins

1988

22 S.

5 Abb., 3 Tab., 21 Lit. Ang.

Bandaufführung

11338

During maturation of spruce seeds (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) there was an increasing proportion of low-molecular wieght and basic proteins, mostly salt-soluble storage forms. The high-molecular weight proteins, on the other hand, were generally found in the water-soluble fraction and included structural proteins and lipoproteins integrated into the membrane structures of the living cell. By two-dimensional electrophoresis and other methods, up to 500 proteins or protein groups were discovered in the water- and salt- soluble fractions, ranging in weight from MW = 9 500 to MW = 160 000 and with acidities varying from pI=3.8 to 6.5. A comparison between mature spruce seeds from northern Norway showed increasing soluble protein content with decreasing germination capacity and increasing altitude. Since the water- and salt-soluble protein content usually increases during maturation, the increase in the protein level with altitude may indicate an ecological adaptation to climate.