Physiological and proteomic analysis of young rice leaves grown under nitrogen-starvation conditions

Rice grown in anaerobic waterlogged soil accumulates ammonium as a major source of nitrogen (N). We have compared the physiological symptoms of rice seedlings subjected to N-starvation stress with those receiving sufficient N, based on measurements of shoot/root length and weight and an analysis of protein expression patterns. N starvation marginally increased root growth but notably decreased shoot biomass. N uptake was reduced by >50% in the roots and shoots of N-starved seedlings. To better understand the mechanism of N starvation in rice, we performed a comparative proteome analysis of proteins isolated from rice leaves. Twenty-five differentially expressed proteins were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry and electron spray ionization quadrupole TOF. Functional analysis of the N-starvation response proteins suggested their involvement in protein synthesis and fate, metabolism, and defense. These results indicate that these proteins may play important roles in regulating the plant’s complex adaptation responses for N use during N starvation. The proteins may be useful for further characterization of protein function in plant N nutrition.