Wheat germ embryos

Grill, L. J., Sun, J. D., and Kandel, J., 1976, Effect of double-stranded RNA on protein synthesis in an in vitro wheat germ embryo system, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 73 149. 

Wheat germ is the embryo of wheat berry. It is a good source of coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, choline, most of the B vitamins, the minerals calcium, magnesium, phophorus, and several trace elements. This chapter provides information only on coenzyme Q10, which is useful in the treatment of the pleiotropic manifestation of the following diseases ... 

One of the most convenient and promising eukaryotic cell-free translation systems is based on wheat embryos, which store all the necessary components of translation. However, conventional wheat-germ extracts are plagued with a short half-life, and consequently, with low expression of proteins. In recent findings, we proposed that the possible cause for instability is the presence in the original endosperm extract of RNA (V-glycosidase. tritin, and possibly other... 

Chan, W.Y., Tam, P.P.L. 1988. A morphological and experimental study of the mesencephalic neural crest cells in the mouse embryo using wheat-germ agglutinin gold conjugate as the cell marker. Development 102, 427-442. 

As a result of those studies, Endo et al. developed the pEU series of vectors with various affinity tags for efficient expression in wheat embryo cell-free systems without the need for expensive cap analogues, pl-VEX WG (wheat germ) vectors are now commercially available (Roche) which similarly rely on translation-enhancing untranslated regions flanking the multi-cloning site. 

Just as with protein (arginine) methyltransferase, it is likely that there are several protein (lysine) methyltransferases. Neurospora and wheat germ cytochrome cs contain only c-N-trimethyllysine (196), while pea embryo histone III and bovine retina opsin contain either c-N-mono-or c-N-dimethyllysine, but not c-N-trimethyllysine (211). Flagella protein from Salmonella serpens contains only c-N-monomethyllysine (212). 

Oil from wheat germ (the embryo of the seed of Triticum aestivuni) is rich in linoleic acid (ca. 60%), also contains a-linolenic acid (ca. 5%), 16% palmitic acid, and 14% oleic acid. The oil is rich in tocopherols and shows high vitamin E activity. ... 

Application of ABA to immature wheat embryos prevents embryonic germination, while embryo culture without ABA results in precocious germination [23]. Incubation of immature embryos in ABA also causes the early accumulation of proteins that are characteristic of later stages of embryo maturation [22]. Some of the maturation proteins have been identified and these include wheat germ... 

Our understanding of the mechanism of protein synthesis in plants comes mainly from studies on cell-free (in vitro) systems derived from seeds—by far the most popular material has been the isolated wheat embryo and commercially-produced wheat germ. 

Germ Icorn, rice, wheat 1 Embryo or sprouting pan of the seed. Enrichment or fortification of baked goods and breakfast cereals. Excellent source of protein 120 to 27%l, essential fatty acids, fiber (3 to 12%l, minerals, and vitamins. May turn rancid unless kept refrigerated. 

Wheat germ The germ Is the embryo or sprouting pan of the wheat seed. As an ingredient at speciality breads. Wheat germ is available lor human food, but is lisoally added to animal feeds. 

Fig. 2. Characterization of the 60 kDa ACCase of carrot. 1, streptavidin western of an extract from carrot somatic embryos. 2, in vitro translation of mRNA from carrot somatic embryos in wheat germ extract and immunoprecipitation with anti-60 kDa antibodies. 3, in vitro translation of mRNA from carrot somatic embryos in rabbit reticulocyte extract and immunoprecipitation with anti-60 kDa antibodies. 4, SDS-PAGE analysis of the immunoprecipitated complex containing the 60 kDa biotinylated protein.

To identify the size of the initial translation product of the 60 kDa biotinylated protein, we isolated RNA from carrot somatic embryos, in vitro translated the mRNA with a rabbit reticulocyte or wheat germ extracts, and immunoprecipitated the said polypeptide. With translation products from the wheat germ extracts the predominant polypeptide that was precipitated was 60 kDa, although a less abundant, 65 kDa polypeptide was also immunoprecipitated. This later polypeptide was the predominant protein immunoprecipitated from the translation products obtained with rabbit reticulocyte extracts (Fig. 2). These analyses identified the initial translation product of the protein as a 65 kDa polypeptide. This indicates that the 60 kDa biotinylated... 

Commercial plant germ oils are mainly obtained from cereal grains, such as corn, wheat, and rice. In most cases, the endosperm of the grain is the part of interest for the industrial use of cereals. Starch and proteins are the major components of the endosperm. Endosperm represents 75-85% of the grain and protects the embryo, which is also referred to as germ. 

The hpid content of cereal grains varies with spedes. Wheat, barley, rye and rice contain 10 30 g/kg DM, sorghum 30-40 g/kg DM and maize and oats 40-60 g/kg DM.The embryo, or germ, contains more oil than the endosperm in wheat, for example, the embryo has 100-170 g/kg DM of oil, while the endosperm contains only 10-20 g/kg DM.The embryo of rice is exceptionally rich in oil, containing as much as 350 g/kg DM. Cereal oils are imsaturated, the main adds being linoleic and oleic because of this they tend to become rancid quickly and also produce a soft body fat in pigs and poultry. 

The germ or embryo is very rich in protein ca. 250 g/kg DM), low in fibre, and an excellent source of thiamin and vitamin E. It may be collected separately or may be allowed to flow on to the fine wheat feed by-product. 

---