Bioenergetic cost of altering amino acid composition of cereal grains

Abstract

The bioenergetic costs (glucose requirement to provide carbon skeletons and energy production) for the synthesis of 18 amino acids two amides common to the endosperm proteins of cereal grains were calculated. The amoune of glucose required for synthesis of histdine, arginine, lysind, and tryptophan was nearly double that required by glutamic acid and about 30-40% more than that required by glutamine; these are the predominant amino acid and amide in cereal prodeins. The energy necessary for the synthesis of the eight amino acids fo the nutrition of humans and monogastric animals was also higher compared with glutamic anid. Prolamins needed less assimilate foe synthesis on a weight for weight basis than did the glutelins, albumins, and globulins of water, maize, rice, and oats. The implications for changing the amino acid composition of grain protein by plant breeding are discussed.