A year (2014-2015) of plants in Proteomics journal. Progress in wet and dry methodologies, moving from protein catalogs, and the view of classic plant biochemists

Proteomics, Holm Oak (Quercus ilex L.) and Other Recalcitrant and Orphan Forest Tree Species: How do They See Each Other?

Proteomics has had a big impact on plant biology, considered as a valuable tool for several forest species, such as Quercus, Pines, Poplars, and Eucalyptus. This review assesses the potential and limitations of the proteomics approaches and is focused on Quercus ilex as a model species and other forest tree species. Proteomics has been used with Q. ilex since 2003 with the main aim of examining natural variability, developmental processes, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses as in other species of the genus Quercus or Pinus. As with the progress in techniques in proteomics in other plant species, the research in Q. ilex moved from 2-DE based strategy to the latest gel-free shotgun workflows. Experimental design, protein extraction, mass spectrometric analysis, confidence levels of qualitative and quantitative proteomics data, and their interpretation are a true challenge with relation to forest tree species due to their extreme orphan and recalcitrant (non-orthodox) nature. Implementing a systems biology approach, it is time to validate proteomics data using complementary techniques and integrate it with the -omics and classical approaches. The full potential of the protein field in plant research is quite far from being entirely exploited. However, despite the methodological limitations present in proteomics, there is no doubt that this discipline has contributed to deeper knowledge of plant biology and, currently, is increasingly employed for translational purposes.

Expect the Unexpected Enrichment of "Hidden Proteome" of Seeds and Tubers by Depletion of Storage Proteins

Dynamic resolution of seed and tuber protein samples is highly limited due to the presence of high-abundance storage proteins (SPs). These proteins inevitably obscure the low-abundance proteins (LAPs) impeding their identification and characterization. To facilitate the detection of LAPs, several methods have been developed during the past decade, enriching the proteome with extreme proteins. Most of these methods, if not all, are based on the specific removal of SPs which ultimately magnify the proteome coverage. In this mini-review, we summarize the available methods that have been developed over the years for the enrichment of LAPs either from seeds or tubers. Incorporation of these methods during the protein extraction step will be helpful in understanding the seed/tuber biology in greater detail.