Resolubilization of TCA precipitated plant proteins for 2-D electrophoresis

Potential of Trichoderma harzianum and Its Metabolites to Protect Wheat Seedlings against Fusarium culmorum and 2,4-D

Wheat is a critically important crop. The application of fungi, such as Trichoderma harzianum, to protect and improve crop yields could become an alternative solution to synthetic chemicals. However, the interaction between the fungus and wheat in the presence of stress factors at the molecular level has not been fully elucidated. In the present work, we exposed germinating seeds of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to the plant pathogen Fusarium culmorum and the popular herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in the presence of T. harzianum or its extracellular metabolites. Then, the harvested roots and shoots were analyzed using spectrometry, 2D-PAGE, and MALDI-TOF/MS techniques. Although F. culmorum and 2,4-D were found to disturb seed germination and the chlorophyll content, T. harzianum partly alleviated these negative effects and reduced the synthesis of zearalenone by F. culmorum. Moreover, T. harzianum decreased the activity of oxidoreduction enzymes (CAT and SOD) and the contents of the oxylipins 9-Hode, 13-Hode, and 13-Hotre induced by stress factors. Under the influence of various growth conditions, changes were observed in over 40 proteins from the wheat roots. Higher volumes of proteins and enzymes performing oxidoreductive functions, such as catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, cytochrome C peroxidase, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, were found in the Fusarium-inoculated and 2,4-D-treated wheat roots. Additionally, observation of the level of 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase involved in the oxylipin signaling pathway in wheat showed an increase. Trichoderma and its metabolites present in the system leveled out the mentioned proteins to the control volumes. Among the 30 proteins examined in the shoots, the expression of the proteins involved in photosynthesis and oxidative stress response was found to be induced in the presence of the herbicide and the pathogen. In summary, these proteomic and metabolomic studies confirmed that the presence of T. harzianum results in the alleviation of oxidative stress in wheat induced by 2,4-D or F. culmorum.

Comparative Multi-Omics of Tender Shoots from a Novel Evergrowing Tea Cultivar Provide Insight into the Winter Adaptation Mechanism

Tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] O. Kuntze) tree is a perennial plant in which winter dormancy is an important biological adaptation to environmental changes. We discovered and reported a novel tea tree cultivar that can generate tender shoots in winter several years ago, but the molecular mechanism for this unique phenotype remains unknown . Here, we conducted comparative transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics along with phytohormone quantitation between the winter and spring tender shoots to investigate the physiological basis and putative regulatory mechanisms of its evergrowing character during winter. Our multi-omics study has led to the following findings. Gibberellin (GA) levels and key enzymes for GA biosynthesis and the signal transduction pathway were increased in the winter shoots, causing the ABA/GA content ratio to decrease, which might play a key regulatory role in maintaining normal growth during winter. The abundance of proteins, genes and metabolites involved in energy metabolism was all increased in winter shoots, indicating that energy is critical for continuous growth under the relatively weak-light and low-temperature environment. Abiotic resistance-related proteins and free amino acids were also increased in abundance in the winter shoots, which possibly represents an adaptation response to winter conditions. These results allowed us to hypothesize a novel molecular mechanism of adaptation for this unique tender shoot evergrowing in winter.

A proteomic analysis of peanut seed at different stages of underground development to understand the changes of seed proteins

In order to obtain more valuable insights into the protein dynamics and accumulation of allergens in seeds during underground development, we performed a proteomic study on developing peanut seeds at seven different stages. A total of 264 proteins with altered abundance and contained at least one unique peptide was detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS). All identified proteins were classified into five functional categories as level 1 and 20 secondary functional categories as level 2. Among them, 88 identified proteins (IPs) were related to carbohydrate/ amino acid/ lipid transport and metabolism, indicating that carbohydrate/amino acid/ lipid metabolism played a key role in the underground development of peanut seeds. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that all IPs could be classified into eight cluster groups according to the abundance profiles, suggesting that the modulatory patterns of these identified proteins were complicated during seed development. The largest group contained 41 IPs, the expression of which decreased at R 2 and reached a maximum at R3 but gradually decreased from R4. A total of 14 IPs were identified as allergen-like proteins by BLAST with A genome (Arachis duranensis) or B genome (Arachis ipaensis) translated allergen sequences. Abundance profile analysis of 14 identified allergens showed that the expression of all allergen proteins was low or undetectable by 2-DE at the early stages (R1 to R4), and began to accumulate from the R5 stage and gradually increased. Network analysis showed that most of the significant proteins were involved in active metabolic pathways in early development. Real time RT-PCR analysis revealed that transcriptional regulation was approximately consistent with expression at the protein level for 8 selected identified proteins. In addition, some amino acid sequences that may be associated with new allergens were also discussed.

Comparative proteomic analysis of seed embryo proteins associated with seed storability in rice (Oryza sativa L) during natural aging

Seed storability is considered an important trait in rice breeding; however, the underlying regulating mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we carried out a physiological and proteomic study to identify proteins possibly related to seed storability under natural conditions. Two hybrid cultivars, IIYou998 (IIY998) and BoYou998 (BY998), were analyzed in parallel because they share the same restorer line but have significant differences in seed storability. After a 2-year storage period, the germination percentage of IIY998 was significantly lower than that of BY998, whereas the level of malondialdehyde was reversed, indicating that IIY998 seeds may suffer from more severe damage than BY998 during storage. However, we did not find correlation between activities of antioxidant enzymes of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase and seed storability. We identified 78 embryo proteins in embryo whose abundance varied more than 3-fold different during storage or between IIY998 and BY998. More proteins changed in abundance in IIY998 embryo (67 proteins) during storage than in BY998 (10 proteins). Several redox regulation proteins, mainly glutathione-related proteins, exhibited different degree of change during storage between BY998 and IIY998 and might play an important role protecting embryo proteins from oxidation. In addition, some disease/defense proteins, including DNA-damage-repair/toleration proteins, and a putative late embryogenesis abundant protein were significantly downregulated in IIY998, whereas their levels did not change in BY998, indicating that they might be correlated with seed storability. Further studies on these candidate seed storage proteins might help improve our understanding of seed aging.

Proteomic identification of gravitropic response genes in peanut gynophores

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is one of the most important oil-bearing crops in the world. The gravitropic response of peanut gynophores plays an essential role in peanut reproductive development. In this study, we developed an in vitro culture system and applied it to the study of peanut gynophore gravitropism. By comparing the proteomes of gynophores grown in vitro with the tip pointing upward (gravity stimulation sample) and downward (natural growth control) at 6h and 12h, we observed 42 and 39 with significantly altered expression pattern at 6 and 12h, respectively. Out of these proteins, 13 proteins showed same expression profiling at both 6h and 12h. They were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF and further characterized with quantitative real time RT-PCR. Among the 13 identified proteins, two were identified as class III acidic endochitinases, two were identified as Kunitz trypsin protease inhibitors, and the remaining proteins were identified as pathogenesis-related class 10 protein, Ara h 8 allergen isoform 3, voltage-dependent anion channel, gamma carbonic anhydrase 1, germin-like protein subfamily 3 member 3 precursor, chloride channel, glycine-rich RNA-binding protein and gibberellin receptor GID1. Real time RT-PCR analysis revealed that transcriptional regulation is consistent with expression at the protein level for class III acidic endochitinase, Kunitz trypsin protease inhibitor, chloride channel and pathogenesis-related class 10 protein, while the expression of the other 7 proteins might be regulated at post-transcriptional levels. This study identified several potential gravitropic response proteins in peanut gynophores and helps to understand early gravitropic responses in peanut gynophores.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The gravitropic response of the peanut gynophores plays an essential role in peanut production. However, the molecular mechanism responsible for gravitropic responses in the peanut gynophores has not been explored yet. The result generated in this study may provide in vitro culture system for gravitropism study of plant gravitropic response and novel insights into the proteome-level response and give a more comprehensive understanding of early gravitropic response in peanut gynophores. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Translational Plant Proteomics.

Proteomic analysis of NK92-MI cells activated by neuropeptide substance P

Substance P (SP) has been well known by its immunoregulatory properties on the functions of NK cells. However, the changes of molecules involved in the signaling pathways and effects of these molecules of NK92-MI cells activated by SP remain unclear. In this study, we explored the global changes in cellular protein expression of NK92-MI cells activated by SP by 2D-PAGE analysis. Subsequently, we demonstrated that 40 protein spots showed more than 2-fold changes, which displayed marked alterations with statistic significance (p<0.05) between the testing group and control group. Compared with the control we also found that 16 proteins were up-regulated and 24 proteins were down-regulated among the 40 differentially expressed protein spots in the NK92-MI cells activated by SP. In addition 21 differentially expressed proteins were identified by MS/MS, suggesting that those proteins may play important roles in the process of activation of NK92-MI cells by SP. Moreover, the protein Rho GDI-2, Protein DJ-1 and alpha-enolase were reconfirmed by western blotting. Taken together, these findings may provide a new insight into better understanding at the molecular mechanisms of activation of NK92-MI cells by SP.

Comparisons of protein profiles of beech bark disease resistant and susceptible American beech (Fagus grandifolia)

BACKGROUND

Beech bark disease is an insect-fungus complex that damages and often kills American beech trees and has major ecological and economic impacts on forests of the northeastern United States and southeastern Canadian forests. The disease begins when exotic beech scale insects feed on the bark of trees, and is followed by infection of damaged bark tissues by one of the Neonectria species of fungi. Proteomic analysis was conducted of beech bark proteins from diseased trees and healthy trees in areas heavily infested with beech bark disease. All of the diseased trees had signs of Neonectria infection such as cankers or fruiting bodies. In previous tests reported elsewhere, all of the diseased trees were demonstrated to be susceptible to the scale insect and all of the healthy trees were demonstrated to be resistant to the scale insect. Sixteen trees were sampled from eight geographically isolated stands, the sample consisting of 10 healthy (scale-resistant) and 6 diseased/infested (scale-susceptible) trees.

RESULTS

Proteins were extracted from each tree and analysed in triplicate by isoelectric focusing followed by denaturing gel electrophoresis. Gels were stained and protein spots identified and intensity quantified, then a statistical model was fit to identify significant differences between trees. A subset of BBD differential proteins were analysed by mass spectrometry and matched to known protein sequences for identification. Identified proteins had homology to stress, insect, and pathogen related proteins in other plant systems. Protein spots significantly different in diseased and healthy trees having no stand or disease-by-stand interaction effects were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Further study of these proteins should help to understand processes critical to resistance to beech bark disease and to develop biomarkers for use in tree breeding programs and for the selection of resistant trees prior to or in early stages of BBD development in stands. Early identification of resistant trees (prior to the full disease development in an area) will allow forest management through the removal of susceptible trees and their root-sprouts prior to the onset of disease, allowing management and mitigation of costs, economic impact, and impacts on ecological systems and services.