EXTRACTION, FRACTIONATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COWPEA (VIGNA UNGUICULATA) GLOBULINS

The proteins were extracted from cowpea seeds by buffered saline solution and the globulins were separated by dialyzing the protein extract against distilled water. Fractionation of the total globulins on Sephacryl S-200 column produced two major and one minor components. The molecular weight of the major globulin components were estimated to be greater than 250000 and 178 000 for the globulin component (a) and (b) respectively and the latter component was the predominant globulin. The two major globulin components were free from contamination of other proteins as shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Spectrophotometry and amino acid analyses were used as tools for characterizing the globulin components