Proteomic analysis of low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits and relationship with their genes in a common wheat variety

Although many studies on low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (LMW-GS) function have been reported, a comprehensive comparison between specific genes and their protein product is still lacking. This study aimed to link the 43 genes isolated from the Korean wheat variety “Jokyoung” in the authors’ previous study to their protein products. Proteins were separated using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE) and identified by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) at the gene haplotype level. Using MS/MS analysis of 17 protein spots, two spots were identified in the Glu-A3 locus and the corresponding haplotype was GluA3-13(Glu-A3c). Six spots were identified in the Glu-B3 locus and the corresponding haplotypes were GluB3-33 and GluB3-43 (Glu-B3h). Eight spots were identified in the Glu-D3 locus and the corresponding haplotypes were GluD3-11, GluD3-21, GluD3-31, GluD3-5, and GluD3-6 (Glu-D3a), and one spot was contaminated with gamma gliadin. Phylogenetic analysis and alignment of nucleotide and amino acid sequences assigned 35 of the 43 genes to seven haplotypes: GluA3-13, GluB3-43, GluD3-11, GluD3-21, GluD3-31, GluD3-42, and GluD3-5. Taken together, except for GluB3-33 and GluD3-6, which were not isolated, linking of each gene to the corresponding protein products at the gene haplotype level was accomplished using proteomic tools and phylogenetic analysis.