Structural and interfacial characteristics of oil bodies in coconuts (Cocos nucifera L.)

This study investigated the structural characteristics of oil bodies from mature coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) fruit. The ultrastructure and the distribution of oil bodies in coconut endosperm were investigated using cryo-scanning electron microscopy. The interfacial characteristics of the oil bodies in suspensions isolated using two different protocols were studied using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and the oleosins stabilizing the oil bodies were characterized using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoresis. The oil bodies were found to be preferentially accumulated in endosperm tissues away from the inner endosperm and had a polydisperse size distribution, both intracellularly and in suspensions. The CLSM of oil bodies revealed uniform distribution of proteins and phospholipids at the interface along with glycolipids. Six different proteins were found to be associated with oil bodies some of which were disulfide-linked. This work provides new insights into the structure of coconut oil bodies and mechanisms for their stabilization.