Rooteomics: The Challenge of Discovering Plant Defense-Related Proteins in Roots

Abstract

Abstract:In recent years, a strong emphasis has been given in deciphering the function of genes unraveled by the completion of several genome sequencing projects. In plants, functional genomics has been massively used in order to search for gene products of agronomic relevance. As far as root-pathogen interactions are concerned, several genes are recognized to provide tolerance/resistance against potential invaders. However, very few proteins have been identified by using current proteomic approaches. One of the major drawbacks for the successful analysis of root proteomes is the inherent characteristics of this tissue, which include low volume content and high concentration of interfering substances such as pigments and phenolic compounds. The proteome analysis of plant-pathogen interactions provides important information about the global proteins expressed in roots in response to biotic stresses. Moreover, several pathogenic proteins superimpose the plant proteome and can be identified and used as targets for the control of viruses, bacteria, fungi and nematode pathogens. The present review focuses on advances in different proteomic strategies dedicated to the challenging analysis of plant defense proteins expressed during bacteria-, fungi-and nematode-root interactions. Recent developments, limitations of the current techniques, and technological perspectives for root proteomics aiming at the identification of resistance-related proteins are discussed.

Phosphoproteomic analysis of the resistant and susceptible genotypes of maize infected with sugarcane mosaic virus

“…Compared with the study of transcript, the study of proteins has become progressively more important since it is now well-established that proteins are more directly related to function (Pandey and Mann 2000). Although proteomics research in animals is greatly advanced, plant proteomics research is not enough especially in pathogen-host interactions study (Mehta et al 2008). To identify candidate SCMV resistance proteins and explore molecular mechanisms involved in plant-SCMV interactions, we recently conducted proteomic analyses of leaf samples from resistant and susceptible genotypes of maize infected with SCMV (Wu et al 2013).…”

The influence of the fungal pathogen Mycocentrospora acerina on the proteome and polyacetylenes and 6-methoxymellein in organic and conventionally cultivated carrots (Daucus carota) during post harvest storage

“…Furthermore, potential activation of proteins by post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, is not taken into account by using genomic strategies [13]. There are still very few relevant proteomic analyses on root-microorganism interactions compared to leaf-microorganism interactions [14]. The model plants for proteomics studies on these interactions are Arabidopsis thaliana and Medicago truncatula.…”

“…The model plants for proteomics studies on these interactions are Arabidopsis thaliana and Medicago truncatula. The focus of the latter concerned symbiotic interactions on legumes; few studies concern root-pathogen interactions and none of these concern root crops [14][15][16]. A single study has involved carrot roots with a symbiont, but no study has concerned postharvest pathogens, such as M. acerina, with respect to rootmicroorganism proteomics [15,17].…”

A root proteomics-based insight reveals dynamic regulation of root proteins under progressive drought stress and recovery in Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek

“…Moreover, majority of the current understanding of drought responses of legumes at the molecular level were based on foliar proteins only and a focused analysis, involving root protein expression patterns at different levels of stress intensity and recovery period, were not yet reported. A recent review on plant proteomics emphasized the importance of undertaking root proteomics-based analyses under various stress conditions (Mehta et al 2008). …”