Electrophoretic pattern of seed proteins of perilla

Total seed proteins of 26 accessions of perilla were analysed by SDS-PAGE. The major polypeptides were separated into three zones. Zone 1 consisted of a single polypeptide of molecular weight of 47.8 kDa, while Zone 2 had four polypeptides of 31.6, 30.9, 30.2 and 29.5 kDa and Zone 3 showed three polypeptides of 22.3, 21.8 and 20.9 kDa. SDS-PAGE of unreduced proteins demonstrated that the polypeptides of Zone 2 and 3 were the products of larger polypeptides with S-S linkage. A polypeptide of 27.5 kDa was resolved between Zone 2 and Zone 3 and appeared to be single polypeptide component. A radiation-induced mutant did not show this polypeptide. All the accessions had similar electrophoretic pattern suggesting a narrow genetic base of the accessions. The perilla seed protein pattern has similarity with legumin and vicilin-like proteins, usually present in legumes.