Composition of seed storage proteins changed by glutathione treatment of soybeans.

The application of glutathione to immature soybean cotyledons reduced the accumulation of the beta subunit of beta-conglycinin, and increased the accumulation of most glycinins. Both reduced and oxidized forms of glutathione had these effects. The application of an inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, buthionine sulfoximine, increased accumulation of beta subunit. These results suggest that glutathione is important in affecting the composition of seed storage proteins.