Proteome Analysis of Detached Fronds from a Resurrection Plant Selaginella Bryopteris - Response to Dehydration and Rehydration

Farah Deeba,Uday Pathre,Sanjeev Kanojiya,Vivek Pandey

doi:10.4172/jpb.1000067

Abstract

Selaginella bryopteris (L.) Bak is a resurrection plant. Uniquely, its detached fronds have the ability to survive desiccation similar to that of the whole plant. In order to understand the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance, proteome studies were carried out in this plant using detached fronds to reveal proteins that were differentially expressed in response to dehydration and rehydration. There was not much difference in electrolyte leakage between control, dehydrated and rehydrated fronds. During dehydration the plants showed only respiration and a dr op in F v /F m values. Both fluorescence and photosynthesis regained totally after rehydration. About 250 protein spots were reproducibly detected and analyzed. From the putatively identified spots (proteins), it was observed that proteins involved in transport, targeting and degradation were expressed more in the desiccated fronds. These findings tentatively indicate that some of the proteins could contribute a physiological advantage to S. bryopteris under desiccation.

Highlights

Plants have evolved a wide spectrum of adaptations to cope with the challenges of environmental stress
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Institute with headquarters in Sri Lanka, predicts that by year 2025, one-third of the world’s population will live in regions that will experience severe water scarcity. This will surely impact on agriculture in these regions. It has become imperative for plant biologists to understand the mechanisms by which plants can adapt to water deficit while retaining their capacity to serve as sources of food and other raw materials
A mild water deficit leads to small changes in the water status of plants, and plants cope by reducing water loss and/or by increasing water uptake (Bray, 1997)

Summary

Introduction

Plants have evolved a wide spectrum of adaptations to cope with the challenges of environmental stress. Protein Extraction is an important method for studying responses of the plants to given stress factors. We report a proteome analysis of the changes in proteins that occur in the detached fronds of S. bryopteris, first when they are dehydrated and subsequently after they are rehydrated.

Results

Conclusion