Degradation of the major storage proteins in maize endosperm, zein and glutelin, begins during the 2nd day of germination. The protein most abundant in the mature endosperm is degraded most rapidly. The patterns of protein loss are essentially similar in germinating seeds and excised endosperms. Cycloheximide, added at the beginning of the incubation period, prevents the development of alpha-am...

We have demonstrated that expression of genes involved in starch and storage protein synthesis of the maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm are coordinated. Genetic lesions altering synthetic events in one biosynthetic pathway affect expression of genes in both pathways. Initial studies focused on shrunken2 (sh2) and brittle2 (bt2) mutants because these genes encode subunits of the same enzyme, ADP-glu...

Starch biosynthetic enzymes from maize (Zea mays) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) amyloplasts exist in cell extracts in high molecular weight complexes; however, the nature of those assemblies remains to be defined. This study tested the interdependence of the maize enzymes starch synthase IIa (SSIIa), SSIII, starch branching enzyme IIb (SBEIIb), and SBEIIa for assembly into multisubunit complexe...

Plant reproduction is sensitive to water deficits, especially during the early phases when development may cease irreversibly even though the parent remains alive. Grain numbers decrease because of several developmental changes, especially ovary abortion in maize (Zea mays L.) or pollen sterility in small grains. In maize, the water deficits inhibit photosynthesis, and the decrease in photosynt...

The major component of starch is the branched glucan amylopectin, the branching pattern of which is one of the key factors determining its ability to form semicrystalline starch granules. Here, we investigated the functions of different branching enzyme (BE) types by expressing proteins from maize (Zea mays BE2a), potato (Solanum tuberosum BE1), and Escherichia coli (glycogen BE [EcGLGB]) in Ar...

Gas production (GP) and starch degradation (STAD) from starchy feedstuffs were measured simultaneously by in-vitro incubation in buffered rumen fluid after 0, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 24 h incubation to explore the possibility to estimate STAD via GP technique for starchy feedstuffs. The results showed the ranking in the initial degree of starch degradation and gas production. Potato starch and maiz...

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an important pest of maize. The diet of the D. virgifera imago is rich in starch and other polysaccharides present in cereals such as maize. Therefore, knowledge about enzymes involved in digestion of such specific food of this pest seems to be important. The paper shows, for the first time, the act...

A fungal strain, Aspergillus terreus strain GA2, isolated from an agricultural field cultivating sweet sorghum, produced feruloyl esterase using maize bran. In order to obtain maximum yields of feruloyl esterase, the solid state fermentation (SSF) conditions for enzyme production were standardized. Effective feruloyl esterase production was observed with maize bran as substrate followed by whea...