Proteomics of wheat bran (Triticum aestivum var. Babbler)

Wheat is a major crop in Australia with around 25 million tonnes of grain harvested in an average year. Improved wheat grain cultivars and wheat grain milling can result in higher biological yields and flour quality. The introduction covers the general aspects of the wheat grain from bran development and structure through to millings and the importance of flour quality in flour-based products. It also highlights the problem with bran contamination in flour during milling and other factors that may have an effect on flour quality. Proteomics was used to identify proteins in three separate bran tissue fractions: the inner fraction (aleurone), intermediate fraction (nucellar tissue, testa, tube cells and cross cells) and the outer faction (hypodermis and epidermis). The aim of the project was to identify proteins in bran tissue fractions which may potentially be useful in improvements in wheat quality for farmers and consumers and flour yield for millers. The results show that more than 80% of the identified proteins in the outer and intermediate tissue factions are defence-and stress-related proteins (chitinase, xylanase, thaumatin-like protein, wheatwin 1, lipid-transfer protein, oxalatae oxidase (OXO), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POX)). Almost 60% of the proteins identified in the inner tissue fraction are 7S Globulin storage proteins and around 15% are protein synthesis-and energy-related. Water-soluble proteins were also identified and it was found that endochitinase, OXO, PPO and POX all leach out from the grain durings imbibition. This study has added to the knowledge of bran tissue-specific proteins and has broad implications for improving crop yield and flour quality.