Abstract: The characteristics of storage protein accumulation of maize with qualified protein (MQP) and 02 maize were analysed basing on the genetical and biochemical point of views. The 22 kD and 20 kD zeins in the developing endosperms of maize accumulated 15 days after pollination. The structural genes encoding 22 kD and 20 kD zeins in the developing endosperms were simutaneously expressed. In the endosperms of MPQ and o2 maize the synthesis of 22 kD and 20 kD zeins was suppressed. That is to say, o2 gene negatively regulated the synthesis of 22 kD and 20 kD zeins. Two-dimentional electrophoretic analysis of zeins in the maize endosperms further revealed the effects of o2 gene and its modifiers on the synthesis of zeins. In Mol7 and Mo17/o2 endosperms the synthesis of 27 kD, 22 kD, 20 kD and 15 kD zeins was severely suppressed. In 041/oz and 040/o2 endosperms little difference existed SDS-PAGE analysis of the soluble proteins of Mol 7 and Mo17/o2 endosperms revealted that two bands with molecular weight (MW) of 38.7 kD and 26.7 kD were present in wild type but absent in o2 mutant, while two bands with MW 27.2 kD and 26.1 kD were present in o2 mutant but absent in wild type. These differences were resulted from the effect of o2 gene. In 040/02 and 041/o2 endosperms two bands with MW 18.6 kD and 17.6 kD were present in 041/o2 but absent in 040/02 while one band with MW 40. 2 kD was present in 040/02 and absent in 041/o2, which was closely related to the effects of the modifiers of o2 gene.

Key words: Maize with qualified protein, Endosperm, Zein, Opaque-2, Two-dimen-sional electrophoresis