Comparison of different analytical methods to evaluate the heat shock protein (HSP) response in fruits. Application to tomatoes subjected to stress treatments

Abstract

Heat shock proteins (HSP) are synthesized in living tissues exposed to transient increase in temperature and play a central role in the protective response against heat and other stresses. In fruits, this response to heat treatment provides resistance to a physiological alteration known as chilling injury. Despite the physiological importance of this group of proteins, publications comparing different methodological alternatives for their analysis are rather scarce. In the present paper, we conducted a comparative study using different electrophoretic and immunological techniques to evaluate the HSP response in fruits. Proteins were extracted from tomato fruit exposed to an HSP-inducing temperature (38 °C) for different times (0, 3, 20, and 27 h). Different alternatives of analysis (SDS-PAGE, SDS-PAGE followed by IEF, Western blot, and dot blot) were performed, and their potential application discussed. The study was complemented with a practical application, in which tomatoes were subjected to heat and anaerobic treatments and then stored in a chill-inducing temperature. This application evidences the relevance of knowing the level of proteins attained by stress treatments which correlates with the acquired tolerance.

Plant biomarkers as early detection tools in stress management in food crops: a review

“…Additionally, they assist in stabilizing protein structure, maintaining normal conformation, and regulating cellular homeostasis (Khan et al 2021 ). Using SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing (IEF), western blot, and dot blot techniques, Polenta et al ( 2020 ) discovered an increased expression of HSP in tomatoes in response to extreme heat and cold conditions. Their findings highlight the importance and application of HSP as a plant stress biomarker (Polenta et al 2020 ).…”

“…Using SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing (IEF), western blot, and dot blot techniques, Polenta et al ( 2020 ) discovered an increased expression of HSP in tomatoes in response to extreme heat and cold conditions. Their findings highlight the importance and application of HSP as a plant stress biomarker (Polenta et al 2020 ). Table 7 highlights some examples of HSP expression and their mechanism of conferring tolerance to plants under different abiotic stress conditions.…”