Seed Protein in Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz var. Calena
Roberto Russo
Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, CNR, Milano, Italy
Remo Reggiani *
Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, CNR, Milano, Italy
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz is an oilseed crop used for biofuel production. By-products from oil extraction are high in protein (about 35%) and can be used for animal feed. The aim of this study was to characterize the protein fraction of camelina meal. The protein fraction of camelina meal is composed by 60% of globulins. The amino acid profile showed an interesting content of sulfur amino acids, but it was rather deficient in lysine. Seed storage proteins were mainly accumulated between 14 and 42 days after pollination, indicating that, at maturity, the accumulation of protein is already finished. SDS-Page separation of meal protein during the development of the seed showed that the 12S globulin is the principal storage protein.
Keywords: Amino acid profile, Camelina sativa, meal, storage protein, seed