Characterization of pollen tube development in Pinus strobus (Eastern white pine) through proteomic analysis of differentially expressed proteins

The differentially expressed proteins in pollen tubes indicate their specific roles in this stage of male gametophyte development. To isolate these proteins, 2-DE was done using ungerminated pollen and 2-day-old pollen tubes of Pinus strobus. Results show that 645 and 647 protein spots were clearly resolved from pollen grains and pollen tubes, respectively. Thirty-eight protein spots were expressed only in pollen tubes, while 19 increased in intensity. MALDI-TOF MS was used to generate tryptic peptide masses that were submitted to Mascot for identification. Of the differentially expressed proteins, 12% matched with hypothetical proteins, 33% did not hit any protein, and for the 55%, a putative function was assigned based on similarity of sequences with previously characterized proteins. Therefore, pollen tube development can be characterized by the cellular activities that involve metabolism, stress/defense response, gene regulation, signal transduction, and cell wall formation. This study expands our understanding of the changes in protein expression associated with pollen tube development and provides insights into the molecular programs that separate the development of the pollen tubes from pollen grains. This is the first report that describes a global analysis of differentially expressed proteins from the pollen tube of any seed plant.     

杀雄剂SQ-1诱导小麦雄性不育花粉粒差异蛋白质组学研究

采用固相pH梯度/SDS-PAGE双向凝胶电泳对经杀雄剂SQ-1处理和未处理的小麦(Triticum aestivum)成熟期花粉总蛋白质进行了分离, 银染显色, 获得了分辨率和重复性较好的双向电泳图谱. 通过PDQuest 2DE图像软件的分析, 在等电点4～7之间可识别350个以上较为清晰的蛋白质点, 其中差异表达明显的蛋白质点数为21个. 将11个差异点采用基质辅助激光解析电离飞行时间质谱进行了肽质量指纹图谱分析, 采用Mascot软件在Swiss-prot数据库查询, 鉴定出了7个蛋白质, 它们分别是液泡转化酶、动力蛋白轻链TCTEX-1、锰超氧化物歧化酶、果糖-1,6-二磷酸醛缩酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶、凝集素蛋白激酶和一种未知功能的蛋白. 对已知蛋白的功能进行分析, 推测杀雄剂SQ-1诱导小麦雄性不育可能与能量代谢失衡、淀粉合成受抑制、活性氧积累、细胞凋亡以及花器官发育调节基因作用失控等有关.     

Proteomic analyses of apoplastic proteins from germinating Arabidopsis thaliana pollen

Pollen grains play important roles in the reproductive processes of flowering plants. The roles of apoplastic proteins in pollen germination and in pollen tube growth are comparatively less well understood. To investigate the functions of apoplastic proteins in pollen germination, the global apoplastic proteins of mature and germinated Arabidopsis thaliana pollen grains were prepared for differential analyses by using 2-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) saturation labeling techniques. One hundred and three proteins differentially expressed (p value≤0.01) in pollen germinated for 6h compared with un-germination mature pollen, and 98 spots, which represented 71 proteins, were identified by LC-MS/MS. By bioinformatics analysis, 50 proteins were identified as secreted proteins. These proteins were mainly involved in cell wall modification and remodeling, protein metabolism and signal transduction. Three of the differentially expressed proteins were randomly selected to determine their subcellular localizations by transiently expressing YFP fusion proteins. The results of subcellular localization were identical with the bioinformatics prediction. Based on these data, we proposed a model for apoplastic proteins functioning in pollen germination and pollen tube growth. These results will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of pollen germination and pollen tube growth.     

Proteomic Analysis of MG132-Treated Germinating Pollen Reveals Expression Signatures Associated with Proteasome Inhibition

Chemical inhibition of the proteasome has been previously found to effectively impair pollen germination and tube growth in vitro. However, the mediators of these effects at the molecular level are unknown. By performing 2DE proteomic analysis, 24 differentially expressed protein spots, representing 14 unique candidate proteins, were identified in the pollen of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) germinated in the presence of the MG132 proteasome inhibitor. qPCR analysis revealed that 11 of these proteins are not up-regulated at the mRNA level, but are most likely stabilized by proteasome inhibition. These differentially expressed proteins are predicted to function in various pathways including energy and lipid metabolism, cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis/degradation and stress responses. In line with this evidence, the MG132-induced changes in the proteome were accompanied by an increase in ATP and ROS content and by an alteration in fatty acid composition.     

Proteomic identification of differentially expressed proteins in mature and germinated maize pollen

The identification of proteins involved in pollen germination and tube growth is important for fundamental studies of fertility and reproduction in flowering plants. We used 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS to identify differentially expressed proteins in mature (P0) and 1-h germinated (P1) maize pollen. Among about 470 proteins separated in 2D gels, the abundances of 26 protein spots changed (up- or down-regulation) between P0 and P1. The 13 up-regulated protein spots were mainly involved in tube wall modification, actin cytoskeleton organization, energy metabolism, signaling, protein folding and degradation. In particular, pectin methylesterase, inorganic pyrophosphatase, glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase and rab GDP dissociation inhibitor α are highly up-regulated, suggesting their potential role in pollen tube growth. The down-regulated 13 protein spots mainly include defense-related proteins, pollen allergens and some metabolic enzymes. This study would contribute to the understanding of the changes in protein expression associated with pollen tube development.     

红莲型水稻细胞质雄性不育花粉总蛋白质初步比较分析

采用固相pH梯度/SDS-PAGE双向电泳对红莲型细胞质雄性不育水稻的不育系(YTA)和保持系(YTB)二核期花粉总蛋白质进行了分离,通过银染显色,获得了分辨率和重复性较好的双向电泳图谱。用PDQuest2DE软件可识别约1500个蛋白质点,其中差异表达的蛋白质点数为120。将其中15个差异点采用基质辅助激光解析电离飞行时间质谱(matrix assisted laser desorption/ionizaton time of flight mass spectrometry,MALDI-TOF-MS)进行了肽质指纹图分析,通过采用Mascot软件对MSDB数据库查询,其中7个蛋白质点得到了鉴定。YTA相对于YTB有部分参与物质和能量代谢的蛋白质缺失或表达量降低,这些蛋白质分别是水稻线粒体H -转运ATPase(H -ATPase)α链、盐诱导型膜联蛋白、线粒体NAD -依赖型苹果酶和磷酸核糖焦磷酸合成酶等。这些蛋白质的表达下调或缺失可能与线粒体提供能量不足而导致的花粉不能正常发育有关。线粒体电压依赖性阴离子通道(VDAC)这一重要蛋白质在YTA中的上调表达有可能与花粉败育过程中细胞的程序性死亡相关。     

花粉蛋白质组学研究进展

花粉是高度退化的生物体（雄配子体）,在植物有性生殖过程中具有重要作用。解析花粉发育、花粉-柱头识别、萌发和花粉管生长等细胞学过程的分子机制是当前研究的热点问题之一。近年来,应用高通量的蛋白质组学技术平台,对水稻、拟南芥和裸子植物花粉的蛋白质组学研究揭示了花粉中表达蛋白质的功能类群特征。花粉中参与细胞壁代谢、蛋白质代谢、细胞骨架动态和信号转导的蛋白质被高度代表,并且近1／4蛋白质有多个同工型。本文综述了花粉蛋白质组学的研究进展。     

DUF784基因在花粉管导向中的功能分析

花粉管导向是高等植物完成双受精过程的重要环节,是受多重信号调控的复杂过程.最近的研究揭示,配子体阶段花粉管导向的诱导信号分子是一类具多态性的富含半胱氨酸的防卫素类似蛋白,如来自玉米的ZmEA1和蓝猪耳草中的LUREs在吸引花粉管进入珠孔起重要作用.但是拟南芥及其它植物中此类信号未知.转录组学分析表明,一组DUF784基因可能在花粉管导向中起到重要作用.通过RNAi技术降低一组DUF784基因的表达,分析发现在RNAi转基因植株中,出现胚珠败育现象,花粉管导向出现异常,一部分花粉管不能进入珠孔.另外,用MYB98基因的启动子携带1个DUF基因的编码区,然后转化ccg突变体,发现ccg转基因株系中胚胎败育率下降,即DUF基因能部分互补ccg突变体的表型;从这两方面证实了DUF784基因在花粉管定向导入过程中的作用.     

Genetic, proteomic and metabolic analysis of the regulation of energy storage in rice seedlings in response to drought

We used proteomic analysis to determine the response of rice plant seedlings to drought-induced stress. The expression of 71 protein spots was significantly altered, and 60 spots were successfully identified. The greatest down-regulated protein functional category was translation. Up-regulated proteins were mainly related to protein folding and assembly. Additionally, many proteins involved in metabolism (e.g. carbohydrate metabolism) also showed differences in expression. cDNA microarray and GC-MS analysis showed 4756 differentially expressed mRNAs and 37 differentially expressed metabolites. Once these data were integrated with the proteomic analysis, we were able to elucidate the metabolic pathways affected by drought-induced stress. These results suggest that increased energy consumption from storage substances occurred during drought. In addition, increased expression of the enzymes involved in anabolic pathways corresponded with an increase in the content of six amino acids. We speculated that energy conversion from carbohydrates and/or fatty acids to amino acids was increased. Analysis of basic metabolism networks allowed us to understand how rice plants adjust to drought conditions.     

MALE GAMETOPHYTE DEFECTIVE 2, Encoding a Sialyltransferase-like Protein, is Required for Normal Pollen Germination and Pollen Tube Growth in Arabidopsis

Sialyltransferases (SiaTs) exist widely in vertebrates and play important roles in a variety of biological processes. In plants, several genes have also been identified to encode the proteins that share homology with the vertebrate SiaTs. However, very little is known about their functions in plants. Here we report the identification and characterization of a novel Arabidopsis gene, MALE GAMETOPHYTE DEFECTIVE 2 [MGP2) that encodes a sialyltransferase-like protein. MGP2 was expressed in all tissues including pollen grains and pollen tubes. The MGP2 protein was targeted to Golgi apparatus. Knockout of MGP2 significantly inhibited the pollen germination and retarded pollen tube growth in vitro and in vivo, but did not affect female gametophytic functions. These results suggest that the sialyltransferase-like protein MGP2 is important for normal pollen germination and pollen tube growth, giving a novel insight into the biological roles of the sialyltransferase-like proteins in plants.     

Plant defense in response to chewing insects: proteome analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana damaged by Plutella xylostella

The interactions between Arabidopsis thaliana and Plutella xylostella have been considered as a model system to unravel the responses of plants to herbivorous insects. Here, we use a 2-DE proteome approach to detect protein expression changes in the leaves of Arabidopsis plants exposed to P. xylostella larval infestation at 27°C within 8?h. Approximately 450 protein spots were reproducibly detected on gels. Of these, comparing healthy and infested leaves, we identified 18 differentially expressed protein spots. Thirteen proteins were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF/MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS. Functional classification analysis indicated that the differentially identified proteins were associated with amino acid, carbohydrate, energy, lipid metabolism, and photosynthesis. In addition, their relative abundances were assessed according to larval pest feeding on Arabidopsis leaves. These data provide valuable new insights for further works in plant-biotic and environmental stress interaction.     

GNOM-LIKE 2, Encoding an Adenosine Diphosphate-Ribosylation Factor-Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Protein Homologous to GNOM and GNL1, is Essential for Pollen Germination in Arabidopsis

In flowering plants, male gametes are delivered to female gametophytes by pollen tubes. Although it is important for sexual plant reproduction, little is known about the genetic mechanism that controls pollen germination and pollen tube growth. Here we report the identification and characterization of two novel mutants, gnom-like 2-1 ( gnl2-1 ) and gnl2-2 in Arabidopsis thaliana , in which the pollen grains failed to germinate in vitro and in vivo . GNL2 encodes a protein homologous to the adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation factor-guanine nucleotide exchange factors, GNOM and GNL1 that are involved in endosomal recycling and endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi vesicular trafficking. It was prolifically expressed in pollen grains and pollen tubes. The results of the present study suggest that GNL2 plays an important role in pollen germination.     

Proteomic analysis of iron overload in human hepatoma cells

Iron-mediated organ damage is common in patients with iron overload diseases, namely, hereditary hemochromatosis. Massive iron deposition in parenchymal organs, particularly in the liver, causes organ dysfunction, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and also hepatocellular carcinoma. To obtain deeper insight into the poorly understood and complex cellular response to iron overload and consequent oxidative stress, we studied iron overload in liver-derived HepG2 cells. Human hepatoma HepG2 cells were exposed to a high concentration of iron for 3 days, and protein expression changes initiated by the iron overload were studied by two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. From a total of 1,060 spots observed, 21 spots were differentially expressed by iron overload. We identified 19 of them; 11 identified proteins were upregulated, whereas 8 identified proteins showed a decline in response to iron overload. The differentially expressed proteins are involved in iron storage, stress response and protection against oxidative stress, protein folding, energy metabolism, gene expression, cell cycle regulation, and other processes. Many of these molecules have not been previously suggested to be involved in the response to iron overload and the consequent oxidative stress.     

小麦Ven型胞质雄性不育植株与可育植株花药蛋白质组差异研究

普通小麦具有偏凸山羊草（Ae. ventricosa）细胞质的不育系为Ven型胞质雄性不育系（Ven cytoplasmic male sterility, Ven CMS）,是粘类小麦CMS的一种类型。该研究对小麦Ven型雄性不育系冀5418A及其同型保持系冀5419B的单核期和二核期的花药进行差异蛋白质组学分析,探讨小麦质核互作雄性不育的分子机制。通过双向电泳分离花药蛋白,基质辅助激光解析飞行时间串联质谱（MALDI TOF TOF）对差异表达蛋白进行质谱鉴定,利用生物信息学进行差异表达蛋白鉴定和功能注释分析。结果表明,在分子量19.0～100.0 kD、等电点4～7线性范围内,共检测到约2 000个蛋白点。2个时期共检测到差异蛋白98个,其中两个时期差异表达变化一致的蛋白点56个;数据库搜索获得鉴定的蛋白点41个,其中18个蛋白的表达量在冀5418A 中显著下调,23个在冀5418B 中明显下调。在不育系和可育系中均有参与能量代谢、活性氧代谢、核糖体合成、花粉物质合成的差异蛋白。GO分析预测差异蛋白生物学过程多涉及电子传递和能量代谢、核糖体代谢、活性氧代谢等,细胞组成主要是在膜区域和线粒体,分子功能主要是DNA和RNA结合功能和水解酶等。KEGG分析表明,较多蛋白分布于碳水化合物代谢、活性氧代谢和蛋白组装和折叠途径。推测不育系冀5418A 的雄性不育性除了涉及能量代谢、活性氧清除过程,核糖体蛋白、伴侣蛋白等也有重要作用,雄性不育性可能还与蛋白质加工、物质合成过程的紊乱有关。     

Comparative proteomic analysis of human placenta derived from assisted reproductive technology

The aim of this study was to use proteomics-based approach to examine differences in protein expression in placenta derived from assisted reproductive technology (ART) and normal pregnancy. Using 2-DE we found that, compared with the control group, 12 spots in standard in vitro fertilization group and 18 spots in intracytoplasmic sperm injection group were identified as significantly differentially expressed proteins. Among them, six spots were differentially expressed in both standard IVF and ICSI groups with the same change tendency. Totally, 20 proteins were successfully identified by MALDI TOF/TOF MS, including proteins involved in the membrane traffic, metabolism, nucleic acid processing, stress response and cytoskeleton. Notably, five proteins detected to be differentially expressed in both ART groups were identified as annexin A3, hnRNP C1/C2, alpha-SNAP, FTL and ATP5A. Some of the proteins were confirmed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis. Our study allowed for the initial identification of these proteins related to various functions in placentation with significantly altered abundance in ART groups. The present results reveal that abnormal protein profiles are involved in ART placenta and these differentially expressed proteins may be valuable for the evaluation of potential association between ART treatment and offspring outcome.     

Proteomic Analysis of Cd-Responsive Proteins in Solanum torvum

Proteomic changes induced by Cd have been described in plants in different scenarios. However, there has been no proteomic study on Cd toxicity, including any low Cd-accumulating species. Here, we investigate the response of a low Cd-accumulating species, Solanum torvum, to Cd toxicity at the root proteomic level using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE). The root 2-DGE map consisted of at least 927 reproducible protein spots, of which 45 were classified as differentially expressed proteins based on three replicated separations. MALDI-TOF MS analysis identified 19 of these spots, and MALDI-TOF/TOF MS analysis identified 8 of the spots. The eight proteins identified were two S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthetases, actin, an ATP synthase subunit, two tubulin proteins, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and 14-3-3 protein 4. These proteins are involved in phytohormone synthesis, defense responses, energy metabolism, and cytoskeleton construction. Thus, our proteomic analysis revealed that Cd stress promotes an increase in the abundance of proteins involved in antioxidant defenses and anti-stress protection.