Plants accumulate and store proteins in protein storage vacuoles (PSVs) during seed development and maturation. Upon seed germination, these storage proteins are mobilized to provide nutrients for seedling growth. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of protein degradation during seed germination and post-germination. Here I test the hypothesis that vacuolar sorting receptor (VSR) proteins play a role in mediating protein degradation in germinating and post-germination seeds. It is demonstrated that both VSR proteins and hydrolytic enzymes are synthesized de novo during mung bean seed germination and post-germination. Immunogold electron microscopy (EM) with VSR antibodies demonstrates that VSRs mainly locate to the peripheral membrane of multivesicular bodies (MVBs), presumably as recycling receptors in Day-1 germinating seeds, but become internalized to the MVB lumen, presumably for degradation at Day-3 post-germination. Chemical cross-linking and immunoprecipitation with VSR antibodies have identified the cysteine protease aleurain as a specific VSR-interacting protein in germinating and post-germination seeds. Further immunogold EM studies demonstrate that VSR and aleurain colocalize to MVBs, as well as PSVs in germinating and post-germination seeds. Thus, MVBs in germinating and post-germination seeds exercise dual functions: as a storage compartment for proteases that are physically separated from PSVs in the mature seed, and as an intermediate compartment for VSR-mediated delivery of proteases from the Golgi apparatus to the PSV for protein degradation during seed germination and post-germination. / Storage proteins synthesized during seed development are transported to PSVs for storage. However, relatively little is known about the mechanisms of storage protein transport. A putative VSR-interacting protein termed S2 was identified as mung bean 8S globulin. Thus, I test the hypothesis that VSR proteins may be involved in storage protein transport to PSVs in developing mung bean seeds. Immunogold EM with 52 (8S globulin) antibody demonstrates that transport of 8S globulin to PSVs is Golgi-mediated, involving dense vesicle (DV) and a novel prevacuolar compartment (PVC). The novel PVC consists of storage protein aggregates and small internal vesicles. Immunogold EM with S2 (8S globulin) antibody demonstrates that MVBs contain 8S globulin at early stage of seed development. Further immunogold EM studies demonstrate that VSR and 8S globulin colocalize to DVs and the novel PVCs. In vitro binding study demonstrates that calcium ion can stabilize interaction between VSRs and 8S globulin. Thus, VSR proteins may mediate storage protein transport to PSVs via a novel PVC. / Wang, Junqi. / "March 2007." / Adviser: Jiang Liwen. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-01, Section: B, page: 0052. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 120-131). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

by Yubing Li. / "September 2003." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 173-190). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.