Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Grain Quality and Structure Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #210776
Title: Separation of Teff Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter seed proteins by capillary electrophoresis

Author
item Tilley, Michael - Mike
item EVERT, SARAH - KANSAS STATE UNIV
item STAGGENBORG, SCOTT - KANSAS STATE UNIV
item OLSON, BRIAN - KANSAS STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2007
Publication Date: 10/7/2007
Citation: Tilley, M., Evert, S., Staggenborg, S., Olson, B. 2007. Separation of Teff Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter seed proteins by capillary electrophoresis [abstract]. Cereal Foods World. 52:A66.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) is an important food grain in Ethiopia where it is used in the preparation of the tradional flatbread injera. Teff is also used in celiac-safe food products due to its gluten-free status. Limited research has been reported on protein properties of this interesting grain. Previous reports have described multiple methods for examining seed protein polymorphism including SDS-PAGE, reverse-phase HPLC, and isoelectric focusing, either alone or in combination. A free zone capillary electrophoresis (FZCE) method was developed to separate teff prolamins. Optimization included sample extraction method, capillary temperature, buffer composition and additives. The optimal conditions for separation was found to be 50 µm i.d. x 27 cm (20 cm to detector) capillary at 12 kV (with a 0.17 min ramp up time) and 35 °C. The optimum buffer was 100 mM glycine acetate pH 3.5 + 40% acetonitrile (v/v) (ACN) + 0.05% (w/v) hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose (HPMC). Optimization was performed using commercial teff flour on prolamins extracted using 70% ethanol with reducing agents. Using the optimized method twenty-five lines grown in western KS, 18 Ethiopian lines and samples from Brazil, Japan, South Africa, Spain, and Yemen were analyzed. Results demonstrated that FZCE is a useful in evaluating seed protein polymorphism, and may be useful for identification of line and origin.