Anthocyanin and proteins as biochemical markers in maize endosperm cultures

Endosperm maize cultures derived from a strain homozygous for all genes required for anthocyanin synthesis develop an intense pigmentation. Pigmenting ability is generally maintained in successive subcultures, altough colourless areas are frequently observed in pigmented cultures. The isolated colourless cell clusters show a growth rate higher than the coloured ones. These calli nevertheless do not lose the ability to synthesize anthocyanins, and in successive subcultures turn red again.The different growth rates associated with the ability of cells to accumulate pigments suggest the existence of different physiological states of the culture. To investigate this possibility we analyzed the polypeptide patterns of coloured and colourless cultures. SDS gel electrophoresis has demonstrated differences in soluble protein fractions, among which a 26 kD peptide, characteristic of pigmented tissues, has been evidenced. Zein, the major storage protein of maize endosperm is present, although at very low levels, both in pigmented and in unpigmented cultures, confirming that its synthesis occurs continuously in vitro.