Isolation and characterization of the high molecular weight protein fraction (carmin) from safflower seed (Carthamus tinctorius L.).

The high mol. wt. fraction (carmin) of safflower seed of the cv. A-1 was isolated by a non-denaturing procedure involving extraction with pH 7.5 phosphate buffer containing NaCl, precipitation with (NH4)2SO4, re-dissolution of the precipitate in phosphate buffer with added NaCl, and dialysis. Data are given for numerous physicochemical characteristics and amino acid composition. The protein comprises at least 6 subunits, mol. wt. is 2.4 x 10-5-2.9 x 10-5. The protein is globular. It is rich in acidic and hydrophobic amino acids, but has low lysine concn.