The use of SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for detection of proteindegradation during silage fermentation

Silage is the feedstuff produced by the fermentation of forage crops, in th e course of which proteins are progressively degraded. The purpose of the p resent work was to test gel electrophoresis as an alternative method for st udying proteolysis during ensilaging, particularly of wheat seed storage pr oteins. Our results show that the analysis of crude proteins by the Kjeldah l method, which is based on nitrogen determination, may not be reliable eno ugh to determine the degradation status of ensilaged crop proteins. SDS PAG E, however, offers a reliable and accurate way to study the degradation rat es of specific proteins during ensilaging. Our findings also show that whea t seed storage proteins are completely degraded during ensilaging. Such deg radation is of relevance to Jewish religious law, which forbids the use of leavened flour during the period of Passover.