Abstract
In the present investigation, the leaf proteome profile of the macro-mutant lines of Nigella sativa L. was analyzed to identify the key proteins involved in the expression of traits associated with the morphology, seed yield, and content of thymoquinone. In our earlier study, the macro-mutants were generated with contrasting morphological traits and seed yields through induced mutagenesis, using ethyl methyl sulfonate, gamma rays, and combinations of both. Analysis of the leaf proteome of the control and macro-mutant lines of N. sativa showed that twenty-three proteins were differentially expressed. These differentially expressed proteins were sequenced through mass spectrometry and identified using the MASCOT software. On the basis of their function, these proteins were categorized into several groups. Most proteins were found in the categories of signal transduction (18%) and carbon metabolism (18%). A total of 13% of proteins belonged to the categories of energy and metabolism. Proteins in the categories of secondary plant metabolism, stress defense, cytoskeleton, and protein synthesis were also found. The polycomb group protein (FIE1), transcription factor (PRE1), and geranyl diphosphate synthase were notable proteins, in addition to some proteins of signal transduction and carbon metabolism. Expression patterns of the differentially expressed proteins were also studied at the transcript level by using qRT-PCR. Transcriptomics analysis was consistent with the proteomics data. This study shows the changes that take place at the proteomic level through induced mutagenesis, as well as the involvement of some proteins in the expression traits associated with plant height, seed yield, and the thymoquinone content of N. sativa. The identified proteins might help elucidate the metabolic pathways involved in the expression of traits, including seed yield, and the active compounds of medicinal plants.
Highlights
Medicinal and aromatic plants are one of the most important sources of life saving drugs for the majority of the world’s population
Since a high genetic similarity has been reported among populations of N. sativa [13,14], we have developed genetically variable mutant lines of this plant with contrasting morphological traits, seed yields, and thymoquinone content through induced mutagenesis [15]
Improvement of medicinal plants to give them higher yields and more active ingredients through induced mutagenesis has been reported over the last several years, though these represent only 0.2% of the total crop varieties developed through mutation breeding [3]
Summary
Medicinal and aromatic plants are one of the most important sources of life saving drugs for the majority of the world’s population. As the demand for herbal medicines is increasing globally, the supply of medicinal plants is declining because most of this harvest is derived from wild and naturally growing resources. This over-exploitation of medicinal plants from natural resource has led these plants to be under the threat of extinction. The genetic improvement of medicinal plants to produce higher yields and more active ingredients might help fulfil the increasing demand for medicinal plants. These improved high-yielding medicinal plants can be used for commercial cultivation purposes. Induced mutagenesis is an important approach for enhancing the genetic variation in medicinal plants because medicinal plants have narrow genetic variability, and conventional breeding approaches for the development of genetically improved varieties to produce higher yields and active principles takes a long time [3]
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