Root proteomic responses to heat stress in two Agrostis grass species contrasting in heat tolerance

Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) synthase enhances thermotolerance of mushroom Agaricus bisporus

Most mushrooms are thermo-sensitive to temperatures over 23°C, which greatly restricts their agricultural cultivation. Understanding mushroom’s innate heat-tolerance mechanisms may facilitate genetic improvements of their thermotolerance. Agaricus bisporus strain 02 is a relatively thermotolerant mushroom strain, while strain 8213 is quite thermo-sensitive. Here, we compared their responses at proteomic level to heat treatment at 33°C. We identified 73 proteins that are differentially expressed between 02 and 8213 or induced upon heat stress in strain 02 itself, 48 of which with a known identity. Among them, 4 proteins are constitutively more highly expressed in 02 than 8213; and they can be further upregulated in response to heat stress in 02, but not in 8213. One protein is encoded by the para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) synthase gene Pabs, which has been shown to scavenge the reactive oxygen species in vitro. Pabs mRNA and its chemical product PABA show similar heat stress induction pattern as PABA synthase protein and are more abundant in 02, indicating transcriptional level upregulation of Pabs upon heat stress. A specific inhibitor of PABA synthesis impaired thermotolerance of 02, while exogenous PABA or transgenic overexpression of 02 derived PABA synthase enhanced thermotolerance of 8213. Furthermore, compared to 8213, 02 accumulated less H₂O₂ but more defense-related proteins (e.g., HSPs and Chitinase) under heat stress. Together, these results demonstrate a role of PABA in enhancing mushroom thermotolerance by removing H₂O₂ and elevating defense-related proteins.

Sodium hydrosulfide induces systemic thermotolerance to strawberry plants through transcriptional regulation of heat shock proteins and aquaporin

BACKGROUND

Temperature extremes represent an important limiting factor to plant growth and productivity. The present study evaluated the effect of hydroponic pretreatment of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa cv. 'Camarosa') roots with an H2S donor, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS; 100 μM for 48 h), on the response of plants to acute heat shock treatment (42°C, 8 h).

RESULTS

Heat stress-induced phenotypic damage was ameliorated in NaHS-pretreated plants, which managed to preserve higher maximum photochemical PSII quantum yields than stressed plants. Apparent mitigating effects of H2S pretreatment were registered regarding oxidative and nitrosative secondary stress, since malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2 and nitric oxide (NO) were quantified in lower amounts than in heat-stressed plants. In addition, NaHS pretreatment preserved ascorbate/glutathione homeostasis, as evidenced by lower ASC and GSH pool redox disturbances and enhanced transcription of ASC (GDH) and GSH biosynthetic enzymes (GS, GCS), 8 h after heat stress imposition. Furthermore, NaHS root pretreatment resulted in induction of gene expression levels of an array of protective molecules, such as enzymatic antioxidants (cAPX, CAT, MnSOD, GR), heat shock proteins (HSP70, HSP80, HSP90) and aquaporins (PIP).

CONCLUSION

Overall, we propose that H2S root pretreatment activates a coordinated network of heat shock defense-related pathways at a transcriptional level and systemically protects strawberry plants from heat shock-induced damage.

Evidence of current impact of climate change on life: a walk from genes to the biosphere

We review the evidence of how organisms and populations are currently responding to climate change through phenotypic plasticity, genotypic evolution, changes in distribution and, in some cases, local extinction. Organisms alter their gene expression and metabolism to increase the concentrations of several antistress compounds and to change their physiology, phenology, growth and reproduction in response to climate change. Rapid adaptation and microevolution occur at the population level. Together with these phenotypic and genotypic adaptations, the movement of organisms and the turnover of populations can lead to migration toward habitats with better conditions unless hindered by barriers. Both migration and local extinction of populations have occurred. However, many unknowns for all these processes remain. The roles of phenotypic plasticity and genotypic evolution and their possible trade-offs and links with population structure warrant further research. The application of omic techniques to ecological studies will greatly favor this research. It remains poorly understood how climate change will result in asymmetrical responses of species and how it will interact with other increasing global impacts, such as N eutrophication, changes in environmental N : P ratios and species invasion, among many others. The biogeochemical and biophysical feedbacks on climate of all these changes in vegetation are also poorly understood. We here review the evidence of responses to climate change and discuss the perspectives for increasing our knowledge of the interactions between climate change and life.

Screening for changes in leaf and cambial proteome of Populus tremula × P. alba under different heat constraints

Young poplar plants were exposed to different heat regimes, a rapid heat constraint at 42°C (heat shock HS) alone or preceded by a stepwise increase in temperature (heat gradient HG). Proteomics analyses were carried out on both leaf and cambial tissues. The responses of both tissues were compared and linked to morphological and physiological observations. Both heat treatments negatively affected the photosynthetic rate while increasing the stomatal conductance. In the leaf, the HS impacted some photosynthetic proteins, and particularly induced an increase in abundance of proteins of the oxygen evolving complexes. On the other hand, the HG reduced carbohydrate metabolism and induced mainly an increase in germin-like proteins. In the cambial zone, the HS caused a decrease in sucrose synthase content and in enzymes related to protein synthesis. The main effect of HG was the accumulation of thaumatin-like proteins as well as an increase in the abundance of proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Further, both tissues underwent changes in the content of heat shock proteins, but more importantly, of peroxiredoxins. The results show more sustainable changes in leaf and cambial proteomes in response to HS compared to HG.

Microscopy and proteomic analysis of the non-host resistance of Oryza sativa to the wheat leaf rust fungus, Puccinia triticina f. sp. tritici

Rice (Oryza sativa) cv. Nipponbare expresses non-host resistance (NHR) to the wheat leaf rust fungus, Puccinia triticina f. sp. tritici (Ptt). When the leaves of cv. Nipponbare were inoculated with Ptt, approx 93% of the urediniospores germinated on the leaf surface, but only 10% of the germinated spores formed appressoria over the stomata at one day post inoculation (1 dpi). Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) accumulated in host cells around the appressoria at 3 dpi. Approx. 3% of the appressoria produced short hyphae inside the leaf, and fluorescence was observed in tissue invaded by the hyphae by 7 dpi. At 22 dpi, 0.2% of the sites with appressoria formed branching infection hypha in mesophyll cells, but no substomatal vesicles, haustorial mother cells or haustoria were observed. Proteins were extracted from leaves 3 dpi and analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). A total 33 spots were reproducibly up-regulated and 9 were down-regulated by infection compared to the water inoculated control. Of these, 30 were identified by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry. The identified proteins participate in defense/stress responses, energy/carbohydrate metabolism, oxidation-reduction processes, protein folding/turnover/cleavage/degradation, signal transduction and cell death regulation. The results indicates that NHR of rice to Ptt is consistent with a shift in protein and energy metabolism, increased antimicrobial activities, possibly including phytoalexin accumulation and cell wall reinforcement, increased cell repair, antioxidive and detoxification reactions, and enhanced prevention of plant cell death. Nearly half of the up-regulated identified proteins were associated with chloroplast and mitochondrial physiology suggesting important roles for these organelles during NHR.

Next generation functional proteomics in non-model plants: A survey on techniques and applications for the analysis of protein complexes and post-translational modifications

The congruent development of computational technology, bioinformatics and analytical instrumentation makes proteomics ready for the next leap. Present-day state of the art proteomics grew from a descriptive method towards a full stake holder in systems biology. High throughput and genome wide studies are now made at the functional level. These include quantitative aspects, functional aspects with respect to protein interactions as well as post translational modifications and advanced computational methods that aid in predicting protein function and mapping these functionalities across the species border. In this review an overview is given of the current status of these aspects in plant studies with special attention to non-genomic model plants.

Microarray analysis and scale-free gene networks identify candidate regulators in drought-stressed roots of loblolly pine (P. taeda L.)

BACKGROUND

Global transcriptional analysis of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is challenging due to limited molecular tools. PtGen2, a 26,496 feature cDNA microarray, was fabricated and used to assess drought-induced gene expression in loblolly pine propagule roots. Statistical analysis of differential expression and weighted gene correlation network analysis were used to identify drought-responsive genes and further characterize the molecular basis of drought tolerance in loblolly pine.

RESULTS

Microarrays were used to interrogate root cDNA populations obtained from 12 genotype × treatment combinations (four genotypes, three watering regimes). Comparison of drought-stressed roots with roots from the control treatment identified 2445 genes displaying at least a 1.5-fold expression difference (false discovery rate = 0.01). Genes commonly associated with drought response in pine and other plant species, as well as a number of abiotic and biotic stress-related genes, were up-regulated in drought-stressed roots. Only 76 genes were identified as differentially expressed in drought-recovered roots, indicating that the transcript population can return to the pre-drought state within 48 hours. Gene correlation analysis predicts a scale-free network topology and identifies eleven co-expression modules that ranged in size from 34 to 938 members. Network topological parameters identified a number of central nodes (hubs) including those with significant homology (E-values ≤ 2 × 10-30) to 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase, zeatin O-glucosyltransferase, and ABA-responsive protein. Identified hubs also include genes that have been associated previously with osmotic stress, phytohormones, enzymes that detoxify reactive oxygen species, and several genes of unknown function.

CONCLUSION

PtGen2 was used to evaluate transcriptome responses in loblolly pine and was leveraged to identify 2445 differentially expressed genes responding to severe drought stress in roots. Many of the genes identified are known to be up-regulated in response to osmotic stress in pine and other plant species and encode proteins involved in both signal transduction and stress tolerance. Gene expression levels returned to control values within a 48-hour recovery period in all but 76 transcripts. Correlation network analysis indicates a scale-free network topology for the pine root transcriptome and identifies central nodes that may serve as drivers of drought-responsive transcriptome dynamics in the roots of loblolly pine.

Quantitative shotgun proteomics using a uniform ¹⁵N-labeled standard to monitor proteome dynamics in time course experiments reveals new insights into the heat stress response of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Crop-plant-yield safety is jeopardized by temperature stress caused by the global climate change. To take countermeasures by breeding and/or transgenic approaches it is essential to understand the mechanisms underlying plant acclimation to heat stress. To this end proteomics approaches are most promising, as acclimation is largely mediated by proteins. Accordingly, several proteomics studies, mainly based on two-dimensional gel-tandem MS approaches, were conducted in the past. However, results often were inconsistent, presumably attributable to artifacts inherent to the display of complex proteomes via two-dimensional-gels. We describe here a new approach to monitor proteome dynamics in time course experiments. This approach involves full ¹⁵N metabolic labeling and mass spectrometry based quantitative shotgun proteomics using a uniform ¹⁵N standard over all time points. It comprises a software framework, IOMIQS, that features batch job mediated automated peptide identification by four parallelized search engines, peptide quantification and data assembly for the processing of large numbers of samples. We have applied this approach to monitor proteome dynamics in a heat stress time course using the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as model system. We were able to identify 3433 Chlamydomonas proteins, of which 1116 were quantified in at least three of five time points of the time course. Statistical analyses revealed that levels of 38 proteins significantly increased, whereas levels of 206 proteins significantly decreased during heat stress. The increasing proteins comprise 25 (co-)chaperones and 13 proteins involved in chromatin remodeling, signal transduction, apoptosis, photosynthetic light reactions, and yet unknown functions. Proteins decreasing during heat stress were significantly enriched in functional categories that mediate carbon flux from CO₂ and external acetate into protein biosynthesis, which also correlated with a rapid, but fully reversible cell cycle arrest after onset of stress. Our approach opens up new perspectives for plant systems biology and provides novel insights into plant stress acclimation.

Heat shock proteins in association with heat tolerance in grasses

The grass family Poaceae includes annual species cultivated as major grain crops and perennial species cultivated as forage or turf grasses. Heat stress is a primary factor limiting growth and productivity of cool-season grass species and is becoming a more significant problem in the context of global warming. Plants have developed various mechanisms in heat-stress adaptation, including changes in protein metabolism such as the induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs). This paper summarizes the structure and function of major HSPs, recent research progress on the association of HSPs with grass tolerance to heat stress, and incorporation of HSPs in heat-tolerant grass breeding.

Identification of proteins associated with water-deficit tolerance in C4 perennial grass species, Cynodon dactylon×Cynodon transvaalensis and Cynodon dactylon

The study was conducted to examine differential proteomic responses to water-deficit stress in hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. ×Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy, cv. Tifway] and common bermudagrass (C. dactylon, cv. C299). Plants were exposed to water-deficit stress for 15 days by withholding irrigation in a growth chamber. Leaf electrolyte leakage increased and photochemical efficiency and relative water content declined under water-deficit stress, but the extent of changes in each of the physiological parameters for 'Tifway' was less pronounced than those for 'C299'. Total proteins of leaves were extracted from well-watered and water-deficit plants and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Of the 750 protein spots reproducibly detected, 32 proteins had increases in the abundance and 22 proteins exhibited decreases in the abundance in at least one genotype under water-deficit stress. A significantly higher number of proteins were found to accumulate in 'Tifway' than in 'C299' and 16 proteins with increasing abundance were detected only in 'Tifway' under water-deficit stress. All stress-responsive proteins were subjected to mass spectrometry analysis, which were mainly involved in metabolism, energy, cell growth/division, protein synthesis and stress defense. Functional analysis of differential drought-responsive proteins between the two genotypes suggests that the superior water-deficit tolerance in 'Tifway' bermudagrass could be mainly associated with less severe decline in the abundance level of proteins involved in photosynthesis (chlorophyll a-b, ATP synthase subunit alpha, phosphoribulokinase and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) and greater increase in the abundance level of antioxidant defense proteins (superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase and peroxiredoxin), demonstrating that maintaining photosynthesis and active antioxidant defense mechanisms may play a critical role in C(4) grass adaptation to water-deficit stress.

Tissue-specific defense and thermo-adaptive mechanisms of soybean seedlings under heat stress revealed by proteomic approach

A comparative proteomic approach was employed to explore tissue-specific protein expression patterns in soybean seedlings under heat stress. The changes in the protein expression profiles of soybean seedling leaves, stems, and roots were analyzed after exposure to high temperatures. A total of 54, 35, and 61 differentially expressed proteins were identified from heat-treated leaves, stems, and roots, respectively. Differentially expressed heat shock proteins (HSPs) and proteins involved in antioxidant defense were mostly up-regulated, whereas proteins associated with photosynthesis, secondary metabolism, and amino acid and protein biosynthesis were down-regulated in response to heat stress. A group of proteins, specifically low molecular weight HSPs and HSP70, were up-regulated and expressed in a similar manner in all tissues. Proteomic analysis indicated that the responses of HSP70, CPN-60 beta, and ChsHSP were tissue specific, and this observation was validated by immunoblot analysis. The heat-responsive sHSPs were not induced by other stresses such as cold and hydrogen peroxide. Taken together, these results suggest that to cope with heat stress soybean seedlings operate tissue-specific defenses and adaptive mechanisms, whereas a common defense mechanism associated with the induction of several HSPs was employed in all three tissues. In addition, tissue-specific proteins may play a crucial role in defending each type of tissues against thermal stress.

Proteomic analysis of temperature stress in plants

In this review we examine current approaches used for proteomic analysis of temperature stress in plants. Rapid advances in this field in recent years are discussed, including metabolic, chemical and isotopic labeling, and label-free quantitative techniques. These are compared and contrasted with well-established methods such as 2-DE approaches. Examples of applications of various methods are presented, and technical difficulties and limitations of each are also considered. Results of previous studies are examined in detail, and commonly occurring temperature stress response proteins are collated. We conclude that technical advances, and improvements in genome sequence availability, will have an ever increasing impact on our understanding of molecular mechanisms of stress response in plants.

Proteomic changes associated with expression of a gene (ipt) controlling cytokinin synthesis for improving heat tolerance in a perennial grass species

Cytokinins (CKs) are known to regulate leaf senescence and affect heat tolerance, but mechanisms underlying CK regulation of heat tolerance are not well understood. A comprehensive proteomic study was conducted to identify proteins altered by the expression of the adenine isopentenyl transferase (ipt) gene controlling CK synthesis and associated with heat tolerance in transgenic plants for a C(3) perennial grass species, Agrostis stolonifera. Transgenic plants with two different inducible promoters (SAG12 and HSP18) and a null transformant (NT) containing the vector without ipt were exposed to 20 degrees C (control) or 35 degrees C (heat stress) in growth chambers. Two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analysis were performed to identify protein changes in leaves and roots in response to ipt expression under heat stress. Transformation with ipt resulted in protein changes in leaves and roots involved in multiple functions, particularly in energy metabolism, protein destination and storage, and stress defence. The abundance levels of six leaf proteins (enolase, oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 2, putative oxygen-evolving complex, Rubisco small subunit, Hsp90, and glycolate oxidase) and nine root proteins (Fd-GOGAT, nucleotide-sugar dehydratase, NAD-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase, ferredoxin-NADP reductase precursor, putative heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2, ascorbate peroxidase, dDTP-glucose 4-6-dehydratases-like protein, and two unknown proteins) were maintained or increased in at least one ipt transgenic line under heat stress. The diversity of proteins altered in transgenic plants in response to heat stress suggests a regulatory role for CKs in various metabolic pathways associated with heat tolerance in C(3) perennial grass species.

Differential proteomic response to heat stress in thermal Agrostis scabra and heat-sensitive Agrostis stolonifera

Knowledge of heat-responsive proteins is critical for further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of heat tolerance. The objective of this study was to compare proteins differentially expressed in two C(3) grass species contrasting in heat tolerance, heat-tolerant thermal Agrostis scabra and heat-sensitive Agrostis stolonifera L., and to identify heat-responsive proteins for short- and long-term responses. Plants were exposed to 20/15 degrees C (day/night, control) or 40/35 degrees C (day/night, heat stress) in growth chambers. Leaves were harvested at 2 and 10 days after temperature treatment. Proteins were extracted and separated by fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE). Thermal A. scabra had superior heat tolerance than A. stolonifera, as indicated by the maintenance of higher chlorophyll content and photochemical efficiency under heat stress. The two-dimensional difference electrophoresis detected 68 heat-responsive proteins in the two species. Thermal A. scabra had more protein spots either down- or up-regulated at 2 days of heat stress, but fewer protein spots were altered at 10 days of heat stress compared with A. stolonifera. Many protein spots exhibited transient down-regulation in thermal A. scabra (only at 2 days of heat treatment), whereas down-regulation of many proteins was also found at 10 days of heat treatment in A. stolonifera, which suggested that protein metabolism in thermal A. scabra might acclimate to heat stress more rapidly than those in A. stolonifera. The sequences of 56 differentially expressed protein spots were identified using mass spectrometry. The results suggest that the maintenance or less severe down-regulation of proteins during long-term (10 days) heat stress may contribute to the superior heat tolerance in thermal A. scabra, including those involved in photosynthesis [RuBisCo, RuBisCo activase, chloroplastic glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), chloroplastic aldolase, oxygen-evolving complex, photosystem I subunits], dark respiration (cytosolic GAPDH, cytoplasmic aldolase, malate dehydrogenase, hydroxypyruvate reductase, sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase), photorespiration [(hydroxypyruvate reductase, alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT), hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), glycine decarboxylase (GDC)], as well as heat and oxidative stress protection [heat shock cognate (HSC) 70 and FtsH-like protein].

Protein profile analysis of salt-responsive proteins in leaves and roots in two cultivars of creeping bentgrass differing in salinity tolerance

Knowledge of stress-responsive proteins is critical for further understanding the molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance. The objectives of this study were to establish a proteomic map for a perennial grass species, creeping bentgrass (A. stolonifera L.), and to identify differentially expressed, salt-responsive proteins in two cultivars differing in salinity tolerance. Plants of two cultivars ('Penncross' and 'Penn-A4') were irrigated daily with water (control) or NaCl solution to induce salinity stress in a growth chamber. Salinity stress was obtained by adding NaCl solution of 2, 4, 6, and 8 dS m(-1) in the soil daily for 2-day intervals at each concentration, and then by watering soil with 10 dS m(-1) solution daily for 28 days. For proteomic map, using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), approximately 420 and 300 protein spots were detected in leaves and roots, respectively. A total of 148 leaf protein spots and 40 root protein spots were excised from the 2-DE gels and subjected to mass spectrometry analysis. In total, 106 leaf protein spots and 24 root protein spots were successfully identified. Leaves had more salt-responsive proteins than roots in both cultivars. The superior salt tolerance in 'Penn-A4', indicated by shoot extension rate, relative water content, and cell membrane stability during the 28-day salinity stress could be mainly associated with its higher level of vacuolar H(+)-ATPase in roots and UDP-sulfoquinovose synthase, methionine synthase, and glucan exohydrolase in leaves, as well as increased accumulation of catalase and glutathione S-transferase in leaves. Our results suggest that salinity tolerance in creeping bentgrass could be in part controlled by an alteration of ion transport through vacuolar H(+)-ATPase in roots, maintenance of the functionality and integrity of thylakoid membranes, sustained polyamine biosynthesis, and by the activation of cell wall loosening proteins and antioxidant defense mechanisms.

Isolation and characterization of the Arabidopsis heat-intolerant 2 (hit2) mutant reveal the essential role of the nuclear export receptor EXPORTIN1A (XPO1A) in plant heat tolerance

*The Arabidopsis heat-intolerant 2 (hit2) mutant was isolated on the basis of its impaired ability to withstand moderate heat stress (37 degrees C). Determination of the genetic mutation that underlies the hit2 thermosensitive phenotype allowed better understanding of the mechanisms by which plants cope with heat stress. *Genetic analysis revealed that hit2 is a single recessive mutation. Map-based cloning was used to identify the hit2 locus. The response of hit2 to other types of heat stress was also investigated to characterize the protective role of HIT2. *hit2 was defective in basal but not in acquired thermotolerance. hit2 was sensitive to methyl viologen-induced oxidative stress, and the survival of hit2 seedlings in response to heat stress was affected by light conditions. The mutated locus was located at the EXPORTIN1A (XPO1A) gene, which encodes a nuclear transport receptor. Two T-DNA insertion lines, xpo1a-1 and xpo1a-3, exhibited the same phenotypes as hit2. *The results provide evidence that Arabidopsis XPO1A is dispensable for normal plant growth and development but is essential for thermotolerance, in part by mediating the protection of plants against heat-induced oxidative stress.

Analysis of arsenic stress-induced differentially expressed proteins in rice leaves by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry

In the present study, we have investigated the protein expression profile of rice leaves under arsenic (As) stress. Two-week-old rice seedlings were exposed to two concentrations of arsenate (50 or 100 microM), and leaf samples were collected 4d after treatment. To elucidate the As stress-induced differentially expressed proteins in rice leaves, proteins were extracted from the control and treated samples, separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), and visualized by staining with Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB). A total of 14 protein spots showed reproducible changes in expression of at least 1.5-fold when compared to the control and showed a similar expression pattern in both treatments. Of these 14 spots, 8 were up-regulated and 6 were down-regulated following exposure to As. These proteins were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). The increased expression of several proteins associated with energy production and metabolism suggests that higher energy is required for activation of the metabolic processes in leaves exposed to As. On the other hand, results from the 2-DE analysis, combined with immunoblotting, clearly revealed that the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) large subunit was significantly decreased under As stress. Thus, the down-regulation of RuBisCO and chloroplast 29 kDa ribonucleoproteins might be the possible causes of the decreased photosynthesis rate under As stress.

Comparative proteomic analysis of responses to pathogen infection and wounding in Fagus sylvatica

Defense responses of Fagus sylvatica seedlings elicited by infection with the root pathogen Phytophthora citricola and root or leaf wounding were compared at local and systemic levels in differential display experiments using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by homology-driven mass spectrometric identification of proteins. A total of 68 protein spots were identified representing 51 protein functions related to protein synthesis and processing, energy, primary and secondary metabolism, as well as signal transduction, stress and defense. Changes in the abundance of root and leaf proteins partly overlapped between plant responses to the different stressors. The response to pathogen infection was rather late, weak and unspecific and accompanied by adjustments of the energy and primary metabolism which suggested either a lack of recognition or a suppression of host's defense reaction by the invading pathogen. The response to wounding involved changes in the basal metabolism as well as activation of defense mechanisms. Both types of changes were largely specific to the wounded organ. Similarities between the defense mechanisms activated by root infection and root wounding were also observed.