Molecular physiology of seed maturation and seed storage protein biosynthesis

Abstract

Recent progress is presented in order to understand seed protein synthesis in the context of seed maturation, with the main emphasis on legume and cereal crop seeds. This review highlights the molecular physiology of seed storage protein synthesis and deposition, the genetic background, and the regulatory and signal transduction network of seed maturation. Storage protein synthesis is tightly connected to seed maturation, which itself is a response to endogenous and exogenous signals like nutrients and hormones. Seed storage proteins represent an important source for feed and food, and improving its quality and quantity is a desirable aim. Transgenic seed models with specific changes in storage metabolism, post-phloem assimilate transport of sucrose and amino acids and hormone-nutrient interactions can contribute to a better understanding of storage protein metabolism associated to seed maturation and pathway regulation and interaction. Such knowledge is a prerequisite for agricultural improvement of seed quality. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.