Storage protein degradation in germinating horse gram seeds

The pattern of mobilization of seed storage proteins and activation of proteolytic enzymes (endoprotease, carboxypeptidase and leucine aminopeptidase) was investigated in germinating horse gram seeds. Fractionation of soluble proteins from dry seeds and analysis by SDS-PAGE showed eight major polypeptide bands with molecular weight ranging from 156–22 k Da, four in each albumin globulin fractions. During germination we observed the disappearance of high molecular weight (HMW) polypeptides, prominent being 78 k Da and appearance of a new 25 k Da polypeptide. The developmental pattern of proteases appear to suggest that the leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) be involved in the initial stages of germination followed by endoproteases and carboxypeptidases in the later stage.