Nutritional Control of Soybean Seed Storage Protein

Abstract

There is interest in increasing the protein concentration of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed. Potentially, this could change its protein composition and perhaps its value as a livestock feed. Our objective was to examine the change in protein composition of soybean seed with change in protein concentration as influenced by nitrogen source supplied. ‘Harper’ soybean was grown in hydroponic culture and supplied with different nitrogen sources (KNO3, NH4NO3N2, urea) during pod filling. Protein quality was monitored as a function of soybean seed storage subunit composition. With N2 fixation as sole N source, the concentration of total seed protein decreased about 6%, storage protein 5%. Each seed storage protein subunit decreased, but the concentration of [β‐conglycinin, especially the sulfur‐poor [β‐subunit, decreased more than glycinin. Seed storage protein concentration was increased up to 4% by substituting reduced‐N for NO−3. The increased protein concentration resulted from a disproportionate increase of the β‐subunit of β‐conglycinin. The relative abundance of α‐ and α′‐subunits was not changed by N form. Thus, N form seems to control, at least in part, the relative portion of the β‐subunit of [β‐conglycinin, and consequently affects the 11S/7S ratio of seed storage protein. This change in composition with increased concentration diminishes the protein quality because the [β‐submit lacks sulfur‐amino acids. It is noteworthy that the concentration of glycinin remained constant while the total seed protein concentration increased. We think these variations in seed storage protein composition result from the relative abundance of S‐ and N‐metabolites available to developing soybean seed.