Abstract
Proteome analysis of embryo and endosperm of Givotia moluccana, a promising angiosperm tree species was carried out using two-dimensional electrophoresis combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight to identify differentially abundant proteins and their possible functions. The study revealed the presence of 492 protein spots in the embryo and 432 in the endosperm, and the relative abundance of 44 spots varied significantly between the two. Of the 21 functionally characterized protein spots, 14.3% were involved in metabolism and energy, 28.6% in protein destination and storage, 14.3% in defense and stress and 19% in cell growth and division. The embryo-specific protein ATP-dependent zinc metalloprotease FtsH is predicted to be involved in chloroplast biogenesis and the endosperm-specific protein hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydratase in fatty acid synthesis. These results suggested that the seeds have proteins required for germination and for stress responses.
Highlights
The seed of a plant is a structurally and physiologically organised entity; the embryo develops into the plant, the endosperm is enriched with storage compounds to nurture the embryo during primordial growth stages, and a seed coat protects the seed from adverse conditions
Seeds of G. moluccana are oval with a diameter of 11–16 mm and comprise embryo with two thin cotyledons that are embedded in the large endosperm (Fig. 1)
Our results indicated that the proteomes of embryo and endosperm were highly comparable in terms of distribution of protein spots though the structures differ in ploidy and morphology
Summary
The seed of a plant is a structurally and physiologically organised entity; the embryo develops into the plant, the endosperm is enriched with storage compounds to nurture the embryo during primordial growth stages, and a seed coat protects the seed from adverse conditions. The embryo and endosperm differ in ploidy level and coordinately interact to regulate plant development (Chaudhury et al 2001). Apart from providing nutrients during seed germination, the endosperm sustains a high osmotic potential and provides mechanical strength during embryo growth (Lopes and Larkins 1993) and plant growth substances such as cytokines promote cytokinesis and signalling molecules for embryogenesis (Hong et al 1996; van Hengel et al 1998). The seeds of G. moluccana have been reported to be rich in oil used to lubricate fine machinery. The endospermic seeds of G. moluccana have a pronounced dormancy of 1–1.5 years with low natural regeneration. The molecular mechanisms underlying this seed dormancy have been unexplored, but understanding the mechanism may lead to improvements in propagation and regeneration. Proteomic analysis is a powerful tool for understanding such complex biological processes as seed dormancy and germination
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