To examine whether albumin-2, a specific protein found only in amaranth seeds so far, is associated with protein bodies, we isolated protein bodies from Amaranthus cruentus seed embryos by rate-zonal centrifugation with a sucrose gradient. Most protein bodies in the final preparation were intact when observed by electron microscopy. Profiles by SDS-PAGE showed that the isolated protein bodies contained globulin and albumin-2.
Keywords: Amaranthus cruentus L; albumin-2; globulin; protein body.