prolaminlike

Prolamin-like is a descriptive term used in protein science to refer to proteins that resemble the prolamin class of plant seed storage proteins in their amino acid bias, structure, or solubility properties. Prolamins are typically rich in proline and glutamine, with relatively low lysine content, and are soluble in alcohol–water mixtures. Prolamin-like proteins share similar compositional features and are often found as seed storage proteins that accumulate in specific seed tissues.

In plants, prolamin-like proteins include canonical cereal prolamins such as the zeins of maize, as well as related storage proteins in other cereals that exhibit proline- and glutamine-rich regions and repetitive motifs. They are usually synthesized with signal peptides, trafficked through the secretory pathway, and deposited in protein bodies within the endosperm. Some prolamin-like proteins form networks stabilized by disulfide bonds or hydrophobic interactions, contributing to seed texture and nutrient storage.

The term is used broadly in comparative proteomics and taxonomy to describe proteins with homology or functional similarity to prolamins but not strictly classified as such. Prolamin-like proteins occur across various plant species, including cereals and some non-cereal plants, and can influence nutrition, allergenicity, and digestibility due to their amino acid composition and storage roles. The concept helps researchers explore structure–function relationships among seed storage proteins and their impact on grain quality and processing.