Characterization of oil bodies in jelly fig achenes

Abstract

Thin-layer chromatography analysis revealed that the contents stored in oil bodies isolated from jelly fig (Ficus awkeotsang Makino) achenes were mainly neutral lipids (> 90% triacylglycerols and similar to 5% diacylglycerols). Fatty acids released from the neutral lipids of achene oil bodies were highly unsaturated (62.65% alpha-linolenic acid, 18.24% linoleic acid, and 10.62% oleic acid). The integrity of isolated oil bodies was presumably maintained via electronegative repulsion and steric hindrance provided by their surface proteins. Immunological cross-recognition using antibodies against sesame oil-body proteins indicated that two oleosin isoforms and one caleosin were present in these oil bodies. MALDIMS analyses confirmed that the three full-length cDNA fragments obtained by PCR cloning from maturing achenes encoded the two jelly fig. oleosin isoforms and one caleosin identified by immunological screening. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.