NanoLC-MS/MS protein analysis on laser-microdissected wheat endosperm tissues: A comparison between aleurone, sub-aleurone and inner endosperm

Wisse Hermans; Sabrina Geisslitz; Yamina De Bondt; Niels A Langenaeken; Katharina A Scherf; Christophe M Courtin

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137735

NanoLC-MS/MS protein analysis on laser-microdissected wheat endosperm tissues: A comparison between aleurone, sub-aleurone and inner endosperm

Food Chem. 2024 Mar 30;437(Pt 1):137735. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137735. Epub 2023 Oct 12.

Authors

Wisse Hermans¹, Sabrina Geisslitz², Yamina De Bondt³, Niels A Langenaeken⁴, Katharina A Scherf⁵, Christophe M Courtin⁶

Affiliations

¹ KU Leuven, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), Research unit Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: wisse.hermans@kuleuven.be.
² Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Department of Bioactive and Functional Food Chemistry, Institute of Applied Biosciences, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: sabrina.geisslitz@kit.edu.
³ KU Leuven, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), Research unit Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: yamina.debondt@kuleuven.be.
⁴ KU Leuven, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), Research unit Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: niels.langenaeken@kuleuven.be.
⁵ Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Department of Bioactive and Functional Food Chemistry, Institute of Applied Biosciences, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: katharina.scherf@kit.edu.
⁶ KU Leuven, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), Research unit Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: christophe.courtin@kuleuven.be.

PMID: 37924757
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137735

Abstract

Wheat kernel proteins are not homogeneously distributed throughout the endosperm. The goal of this study was to investigate the relative differences in protein composition between the aleurone, sub-aleurone and inner endosperm. Using laser microdissection followed by nanoLC-MS/MS, an innovative method combining high spatial specificity and analytical selectivity in sample-limited situations, 780 proteins were detected and classified by function. A higher proportion of gluten proteins was detected in the sub-aleurone than inner endosperm. Composition-wise, gluten from the sub-aleurone is relatively more enriched in ω-gliadins but impoverished in LMW-GS and γ-gliadins. While a basic set of albumins and globulins was detected in all three microdissected endosperm tissues, specific proteins, like puroindoline B, displayed a gradient. This study provides indications that both histological origin and relative positioning of the tissues drive the protein distribution. Knowledge of this protein distribution offers significant opportunities for the wheat manufacturing industry. Data available via ProteomeXchange, identifier PXD038743.

Keywords: Endosperm; Laser microdissection; Mass spectrometry; Protein distribution; Proteomics; Wheat.

MeSH terms

Endosperm* / metabolism
Glutens / metabolism
Plant Proteins / genetics
Plant Proteins / metabolism
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Triticum* / metabolism

Substances

aleurone
Plant Proteins
Glutens