Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Opportunities for manipulating the seed protein composition of wheat and barley in order to improve quality

  • Review
  • Published:
Transgenic Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Wheat and barley are the major temperate cereals, being used for food, feed and industrial raw material. However, in all cases the quality may be limited by the amount, composition and properties of the grain storage proteins. We describe how a combination of biochemical and molecular studies has led to an understanding of the molecular basis for breadmaking quality in wheat and feed quality in barley, and also provided genes encoding key proteins that determine quality. The control of expression of these genes has been studied in transgenic tobacco plants and by transient expression in cereal protoplasts, providing the basis for the production of transgenic cereals with improved quality characteristics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barcelo, P., Hazel, C., Becker, D., Martin, A. and Löerz, H. (1993) Fertile transgenic cereal plants obtained by particle bombardment of inflorescence tissue. (Submitted)

  • Boronat, A., Martinez, M.C., Reina, M., Puigdomenech, P. and Palau, J. (1986) Isolation and sequencing of a 28 kD glutelin-2 gene from maize. Common elements in the 5′ flanking regions among zein and glutelin genes.Pl. Science 47, 95–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bright, S.W.J. and Shewry, P.R. (1983) Improvement of protein quality in cereals.CRC Critical Reviews in Pl. Sci. 1, 49–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byers, M., Miflin, B.J. and Smith, S.J. (1983) A quantitative comparison of the extraction of protein fractions from wheat grain by different solvents and of the polypeptide and amino acid composition of the alcohol-soluble proteins.J. Sci. Food Agric. 34, 447–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • D'Halluin, K., Bonne, E., Bossut, M., De Beuckeleer, M. and Leemans, J. (1992) Transgenic maize plants by tissue electroporation.Pl. Cell 4, 1495–505.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doll, H. (1983) Barley seed proteins and possibilities for their improvement. In Gottschalk, W. and Muller, H.P., eds,Seed Proteins, Biochemistry, Genetics, Nutritive Value, pp. 205–23, The Hague: Martin Nijhoff.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewart, J.A.D. (1967) Amino acid analysis of cereal flour proteins.J. Sci. Food Agric. 18, 548–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1973) Energy and Protein Requirements, FAO Nutritional Meeting Report Serial No. 52 WHO Technical Report Serial No. 522, Rome.

  • Field, J.M., Shewry, P.R., and Miflin, B.J. (1983) Solubilization and characterization of wheat gluten proteins; correlations between the amount of aggregated proteins and baking quality.J. Sci. Food Agric. 34, 370–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flavell, R.B., Goldsborough, A.P., Robert, L.S., Schnick, D., and Thompson, R.D. (1989) Genetic variation in wheat HMW glutenin subunits and the molecular basis of breadmaking quality.Bio/Technology 7, 1281–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flory, P.J. (1953) Principles of polymer chemistry. InRubber Elasticity, pp. 432–94, New York: Cornell University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forde, B.G., Heyworth, A., Pywell, J. and Kreis, M. (1985) Nucleotide sequence of a B1 hordein gene and the identification of possible upstream regulatory elements in endosperm storage protein genes from barley, wheat and maize.Nucl. Acids Res. 13, 7327–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giese, H. and Hejgaard, J. (1984) Synthesis of salt-soluble proteins in barley. Pulse-labelling study of grain filling in liquid-cultured detached spikes.Planta 161, 172–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J.S., Hall, G., Pearce, G. and Ryan, C.A. (1986) Regulation of synthesis of proteinase inhibitor I and II mRNAs in leaves of wounded tomato plants.Planta 169, 399–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gram, N.H. (1982) The ultrastructure of germinating barley seeds. 1. Changes in the scutellum and the aleurone layer in nordal barley.Carlsberg Res. Comm. 47, 143–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halford, N.G., Forde, J., Shewry, P.R. and Kreis, M. (1989) Functional analysis of the upstream regions of a silent and an expressed member of a family of wheat seed protein genes in transgenic tobacco.Pl. Science. 62, 207–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halford, N.G., Field, J.M., Blair, H., Urwin, P., Moore, K., Robert, P.R. (1992) Analysis of HMW glutenin subunits encoded by chromosome 1A of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) indicates quantitative effects on grain quality.Theor. Applied Genetics 83, 373–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harberd, N.P., Bartels, D. and Thompson, R.D. (1986) DNA restriction fragments variation in the gene family encoding high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunits of wheat.Biochem. Genetics 24, 579–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hejgaard, J. and Boisen, S. (1980) High lysine proteins in Hiproly barley breeding: identification, nutritional significance and new screening methods.Hereditas 93, 311–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • IACR Annual Report (1989) Institute of Arable Crops Research, Harpenden, Herts, UK.

  • Jacobsen, J.V., Knox, R.B. and Pyliotis, N.A. (1971) The structure and composition of aleurone grains in the barley aleurone layer.Planta 101, 189–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlsson, K.E. (1976) Linkage studies on thelys gene in relation to some marker genes and translocations. In Gaul, H. ed.,Barley Genetics III, pp. 536–41. Munich: Verlag Karl Thiemig.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreis, M. and Shewry, P.R. (1992) The control of protein synthesis in developing barley seeds. In Shewry, P.R. ed.,Barley: Genetics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, pp. 319–33, Wallingford: CAB International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreis, M., Shewry, P.R., Forde, B.G., Rahman, S., Bahramian, M.B. and Miflin, B.J. (1984) Molecular analysis of the effects of the mutantlys 3a gene on the expression ofHor loci in developing endosperms of barley (Hordeum vulgare).Biochem. Genetics 22, 231–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreis, M., Williamson, M., Buxton, B., Pywell, J., Hejgaard, J. and Svendsen, I. (1987) Primary structure and differential expression of β-amylase in normal and mutant barleys.European J. Biochem. 169, 517–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B.T., Murdoch, K., Topping, J., Jones, M.G.K. and Kreis, M. (1991) Transient expression of foreign genes introduced into barley endosperm protoplasts by PEG-mediated transfer or into intact endosperm tissue by microprojectile bombardment.Pl. Sci. 78, 237–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miflin, B.J. and Shewry, P.R. (1979) The synthesis of proteins in normal and high lysine barley seeds. In Laidman, D. and Wyn Jones, R.G. eds,Recent Advances in the Biochemistry of Cereals pp. 239–73, London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miles, M.J., Carr, H.J., McMaster, T., Belton, P.S., Morris, V.J., Field, J.M., Shewry, P.R. and Tatham, A.S. (1991) Scanning tunnelling microscopy of a wheat gluten protein reveals details of a spiral supersecondary structure.Proc. Nat Acad. Sci. USA 88, 68–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munck, L. (1992) The case of high-lysine barley breeding. In Shewry, P.R. ed.,Barley: Genetics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, pp. 573–601. Wallingford: CAB International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munck, L., Karlsson, K.E., Hagburg, A. and Eggum, B.O. (1970) Gene for improved nutritive value in barley seed protein.Science 168, 985–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishimura, M., Hara-Nishimura, I., Bureau, D. and Daussant, J. (1987) Subcellular distribution of β-amylase in developing barley endosperm.Pl. Science 49, 117–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborne, T.B. (1924)The Vegetable Proteins. p. 154. London: Longmans, Green & Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne, P.I. (1987) Genetics of wheat storage proteins and the effect of allelic variation on breadmaking quality.Ann. Rev. Pl. Phys. 38, 141–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, D.M., Forde, J., Williamson, M.S., Rhode, W. and Kreis, M. (1991) The nucleotide sequence of a chymotrypsin inhibitor-2 gene of barley (Hordeum vulgare).Pl. Phys. 96, 1389–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, U., Munck, L. and Ullrich, S.E. (1990) Immunogold localisation of chymotrypsin inhibitor-2, a lysin-rich protein, in developing barley endosperm.Planta 180, 272–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robert, L.S., Thompson, R.D. and Flavell, R.B. (1989) Tissuespecific expression of a wheat high molecular weight glutenin gene in transgenic tobacco.Pl. Cell 1, 569–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shewry, P.R. and Miflin, B.J. (1985) Seed storage proteins of economically important cereals. In Pomeranz, Y. ed.,Advances in Cereal Science and Technology Vol. VII, pp. 1–83, USA: Minnesota, St Paul, AACC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shewry, P.R., Williamson, M.S. and Kreis, M. (1987) Effects of mutant genes on the synthesis of storage components in developing barley endosperms. In Thomas, H. and Grierson, D. eds,Mutant Genes that Affect Plant Development, pp. 95–118, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shewry, P.R., Halford, N.G. and Tatham, A.S. (1989) The high molecular weight subunits of wheat, barley and rye: genetics, molecular biology, chemistry and role in wheat gluten structure and functionality. In Miflin, B.J. ed,Oxford Surveys of Plant Molecular and Cell Biology, Vol. 6, pp. 163–219, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shewry, P.R., Halford, N.G. and Tatham, A.S. (1992) The high molecular weight subunits of wheat glutenin.J. Cereal Sci. 15, 105–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatham, A.S., Shewry, P.R. and Miflin, B.J. (1984) Wheat gluten elasticity: a similar molecular basis to elastin?FEBS Letters 177, 205–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatham, A.S., Miflin, B.J. and Shewry, P.R. (1985) The β-turn conformation in wheat gluten proteins: relationship to gluten elasticity.Cereal Chem. 62, 405–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, M.S. and Flavell, R.B. (1990) Identification of an enhancer element for the endosperm-specific expression of high molecular weight glutenin.Pl. Cell 2, 71–1180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urry, D.W., Venkatachalam, C.M., Long, M.M. and Prasad, K.U. (1983) Dynamic β-spirals and librational entropy mechanism of elasticity. In Srinvason, R. and Sarma, R.M. eds,Conformations in Biology, pp. 11–17, USA: New York, Adenine Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasil, V., Castillo, A.M., Fromm, M.E. and Vasil, I.K. (1992) Herbicide resistant fertile transgenic wheat plants obtained by microprojectile bombardment of regenerable embryogenic callus.Bio/Technology 10, 667–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weeks, J.T., Anderson, O.D. and Blechl, A.E. (1993) Rapid production of multiple independent lines of fertile transgenic wheat.Pl. Phys. 102, 1077–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson, M.S., Forde, J., Buxton, B. and Kreis, M. (1987) Nucleotide sequence of barley chymotrypsin inhibitor-2 (CI-2) and its expression in normal and high-lysine barley.European J. Biochem. 165, 99–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson, M.S., Forde, J. and Kreis, M. (1988) Molecular cloning of two isoinhibitor forms of chymotrypsin inhibitor 1 (CI-1) from barley endosperm and their expression in normal and mutant barleys.Pl. Mol. Biol. 10, 521–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yupsanis, T., Burgess, S.R., Jackson, P.J. and Shewry, P.R. (1990) Characterization of the major component from aleurone cells of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)J. Exp. Bot. 41, 385–92.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bristol, AFRC Institute of Arable Crops Research, Long Ashton Research Station, Long Ashton, BS18 9AF, Bristol, UK

    Peter R. Shewry, Arthur S. Tatham, Nigel G. Halford, Jackie H. A. Barker & Ulrich Hannappel

  2. Biologie du Developpement des Plantes, Université de Paris-Sud, Batiment 430, F-91400, Orsay Cedex, France

    M. Thomas & Martin Kreis

  3. Laboratoire de Physiologie et Biologie Moléculaire Végétales, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue de Villeneuve, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France

    P. Gallois

  4. Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Corrensstr. 3, D(O)-4325, Gatersleben, Germany

    Ulrich Hannappel

Authors
  1. Peter R. Shewry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Arthur S. Tatham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nigel G. Halford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jackie H. A. Barker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ulrich Hannappel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. P. Gallois
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M. Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Martin Kreis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shewry, P.R., Tatham, A.S., Halford, N.G. et al. Opportunities for manipulating the seed protein composition of wheat and barley in order to improve quality. Transgenic Research 3, 3–12 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01976021

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01976021

Keywords

Search

Navigation