[Characterization of corn proteins of the cultivars Venezuela-1, Arichuna, Obregon and Venezuela-1 Opaque-2]

A study is presented on the protein composition of the Venezuelan corn cultivars Venezuela-1, Arichuna, Obregón and Venezuela-1 Opaque-2. The proteins were isolated and analyzed for their molecular weight and lysine and tryptophan content. Protein fractionation showed significant differences between normal corn cultivars and Opaque-2. The latter showed a low level of zein and a high content of alcohol-insoluble reduced glutelins (AIG), albumins and globulins in relation to the normal kernel. The relative increase of these protein fractions, rich in lysine and tryptophan, results in a higher concentration of these amino acids in the Opaque kernel, as revealed by the analysis of these compounds carried out in different cultivars. Electrophoretic analysis showed only small differences in the number and intensity of bands from the protein fractions of the maize cultivars under study.