Year: 1982
Type: article
Abstract: SUMMARY The amino acid and protein contents of barley grain from archaeological sites dated between approximately 1000 and 3000 years B.C. have been compared with those of grain grown at Rothamsted between 1852 and 1977. The relative amino acid composition of the archaeological samples was remarkably similar to the recent grain, the main differences being decreased relative amounts of lysine and methionine. We were unable, however, to demonstrate the presence of salt‐soluble proteins by electrophoresis or of hordein by electrophoresis or immunoassay. Salt‐soluble protein and hordein fractions extracted from the oldest Rothamsted samples gave less clearly resolved patterns on electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing than fractions from recent grain, indicating some protein degradation. The rate of degradation was apparently faster for ‘C’ hordein than ‘B’ hordein polypeptides. Scanning electron microscopy showed little difference in the relative amounts of large and small starch grains in the different samples. Transmission electron microscopy showed that although the cells of the starchy endosperm of the 1000 B.C. grain were partially disorganized, they did contain structures which resembled the protein bodies present in similar sections of recent grain.
Source: New Phytologist
Institution: Rothamsted Research
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2004192469