No abstract

As a global approach to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in pea resistance to Erysiphe pisi, changes in the leaf proteome of two pea genotypes differing in their resistance phenotype were analyzed by a combination of 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. Leaf proteins from control non-inoculated and inoculated susceptible (Messire) and resistant (JI2480) plants were resolved by 2-DE, with IEF in the 5-8 pH range and SDS-PAGE on 12% gels. CBB-stained gels revealed the existence of quantitative and qualitative differences between extracts from: (i) non-inoculated leaves of both genotypes (77 spots); (ii) inoculated and non-inoculated Messire leaves (19 spots); and (iii) inoculated and non-inoculated JI2480 leaves (12 spots). Some of the differential spots have been identified, after MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis and database searching, as proteins belonging to several functional categories, including photosynthesis and carbon metabolism, energy production, stress and defense, protein synthesis and degradation and signal transduction. Results are discussed in terms of constitutive and induced elements involved in pea resistance against Erysiphe pisi.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, the genomes of different organisms have been completely sequenced. Nowadays, biological research is directed to understand gene expression and function. Proteomics, understood as protein biochemistry on an unprecedented and high-throughput scale, is becoming a promising and active approach in this post-genomic period. However, its application to plants is still rather limited as compared to other biological systems. After having referred to the most recent plant proteomic reviews, we focused on legume proteomics including studies with the model species Medicago truncatula. This review is aimed at providing to non-proteomic specialists a global overview of what might be expected in entering this field.