ALBUMIN STORAGE PROTEIN AND ALLERGENS IN COTTONSEEDS

Cottonseed contains three major types of proteins having sedimentation values of 2S, 5S, and 9S and existing in equal amounts. Protein bodies isolated from the cottonseed also contain these three major proteins in similar proportions. The 5S and 9S proteins are typical globulin storage proteins and have similar amino acid compositions. The 2S proteins are albumins and are also storage protein as judged by their amino acid composition, developmental properties, and high amount in the seed. The 2S proteins are distinct from the 5S and 9S proteins in solubility, amino acid composition, sedimentation values, and sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoretic patterns. The 2S storage albumin proteins are shown by NaDodSO4 gel electrophoresis, immuno-cross-reactivity, and amino acid composition to be identical with the cottonseed allergens. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.