Biochemistry of Fern Spore Proteins: Globulin Storage Proteins in Onoclea Sensibilis and Osmunda Cinnamomea

Abstract

Onoclea sensibilis was found to contain globulin storage proteins of 2.0S and 11.3S. These globulins, comparable in size and subunit composition to the spore storage proteins characterized in Matteuccia struthiopteris (Templeman, DeMaggio, and Stetler, 1987), declined during imbibition and the initial stages of spore germination. Osmunda cinnamomea, a fern that is only distantly related to Matteuccia, also contained globulin proteins, but these had S values of 5.5 and 11.3. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed extensive differences in banding patterns of the 11.3S protein between Onoclea and Osmunda. This work indicates that while globulin proteins are important storage materials in a variety of ferns they exhibit considerable molecular heterogeneity. The observed heterogeneity in the globulin proteins may be a useful tool to explore evolutionary relationships in the ferns.

Characterization and evolutionary relationship of methionine-rich legumin-like protein from buckwheat

“…Intron D was not found among all angiosperms [28], while the absence of both intron A and intron C is a unique situation for Welwitschia mirabilis, a representative of Gnetales [29]. Shutov and Bäumlein [28] speculated that the D/B-like intron is an ancient feature of the storage globulin single-domain ancestor, which predates its duplication [35]. According to those authors, introns C and A might be considered as later events, which occurred independently after duplication.…”

Vicilin-like seed storage proteins in the gymnosperm interior spruce (Picea glauca/engelmanii)

“…Together these results show that SSPs are highly conserved in plants and were present in a common ancestor prior to the divergence of angiosperms and gymnosperms some 300-350 MYR ago [16,18]. It would be of interest to see whether additional similarities also exist in the storage polypeptides of fern spores [ 17]. Such data would further expand our understanding of the evolution of SSPs, and in addition, could provide useful outgroup data for phylogenetic studies using S SP sequences.…”

Plant Storage Proteins

“…More recent studies have shown that fern spores contain two major groups of storage proteins corresponding to the I I S legumins and 2-3s albumins of flowering plants (DeMaggio & Stetler, 1980;Templeman et al, 1987;Conant & DeMaggio, 1989;Templeman & DeMaggio, I 990). However, of greater interest are the 2s albumins, which are major components of Onoclea (Templeman & DeMaggio, 1990) and Matteuchia (Templeman et al, 1987; but not Osmunda, which contains a 5'5s albumin/globulin (Templeman & DeMaggio, I 990). However, of greater interest are the 2s albumins, which are major components of Onoclea (Templeman & DeMaggio, 1990) and Matteuchia (Templeman et al, 1987; but not Osmunda, which contains a 5'5s albumin/globulin (Templeman & DeMaggio, I 990).…”

“…Onclea sensibilis, Osmunda cinnamomea and Matteuchia struthropteris all contain globulins of SaOw = I 1.3 S, which are considered to be legumin-like on the basis of their amino acid composition, solubility, and subunit composition and properties (Templeman et al, 1987). However, of greater interest are the 2s albumins, which are major components of Onoclea (Templeman & DeMaggio, 1990) and Matteuchia (Templeman et al, 1987; but not Osmunda, which contains a 5'5s albumin/globulin (Templeman & DeMaggio, I 990). The 2.2s albumin of Matteuchia (termed matteuchin) consists of two subunits of Mr about 8000 and 3000, which are linked by disulphide bonds.…”