Revealing the differential protein profiles behind the nitrogen use efficiency in popcorn (Zea mays var. everta)

Shahid Khan,Samuel Henrique Kamphorst,Antônio Teixeira Do Amaral Júnior,Caio Cézar Guedes Corrêa,José Francisco Teixeira Do Amaral,Talles De Oliveira Santos,Vitor Batista Pinto,Marta Simone Mendonça Freitas,Gonçalo Apolinário De Souza Filho,Guilherme Augusto Rodrigues De Souza,Gabriel Moreno Bernardo Gonçalves,Freddy Mora-Poblete,Valter Jário De Lima,Eliemar Campostrini,Fernando Rafael Alves Ferreira,Vanildo Silveira,Marlene Evangelista Vieira

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-05545-9

Abstract

We investigated the proteomic profiles of two popcorn inbred lines, P2 (N-efficient and N-responsive) and L80 (N-inefficient and nonresponsive to N), under low (10% of N supply) and high (100% of N supply) nitrogen environments, associated with agronomic- and physiological-related traits to NUE. The comparative proteomic analysis allowed the identification of 79 differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) in the comparison of high/low N for P2 and 96 DAPs in the comparison of high/low N for L80. The NUE and N uptake efficiency (NUpE) presented high means in P2 in comparison to L80 at both N levels, but the NUE, NUpE, and N utilization efficiency (NUtE) rates decreased in P2 under a high N supply. DAPs involved in energy and carbohydrate metabolism suggested that N regulates enzymes of alternative pathways to adapt to energy shortages and that fructose-bisphosphate aldolase may act as one of the key primary nitrate responsive proteins in P2. Proteins related to ascorbate biosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism increased their regulation in P2, and the interaction of l-ascorbate peroxidase and Fd-NiR may play an important role in the NUE trait. Taken together, our results provide new insights into the proteomic changes taking place in contrasting inbred lines, providing useful information on the genetic improvement of NUE in popcorn.

Highlights

We investigated the proteomic profiles of two popcorn inbred lines, P2 (N-efficient and N-responsive) and L80 (N-inefficient and nonresponsive to N), under low (10% of N supply) and high (100% of N supply) nitrogen environments, associated with agronomic- and physiological-related traits to nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)
N absorption and utilization in the plant are governed by two types of nitrogen transporter genes: (1) nitrate transporter (NRT) genes that take up N in the form of nitrate (NO3−) and (2) ammonium transporter (AMT) genes that take up N in the form of ammonium (NH4+)
The NRT1.1 gene acts as a dual affinity nitrate transporter[9], and the low-affinity transport system (LATS) nitrate transporters previously described in maize roots comprise ZmNRT1.1A, ZmNRT1.1B, and ZmNRT1.2, while the high-affinity transport system (HATS) are ZmNRT2.1 and ZmNRT2.29

Summary

Introduction

We investigated the proteomic profiles of two popcorn inbred lines, P2 (N-efficient and N-responsive) and L80 (N-inefficient and nonresponsive to N), under low (10% of N supply) and high (100% of N supply) nitrogen environments, associated with agronomic- and physiological-related traits to NUE. Br.; Avena sativa L.; and Secale cereale L.), approximately 67% of N fertilizer is not absorbed and used by plants (assuming fertilizer-soil equilibrium) and lost, mostly as nitrous oxide, through gaseous plant emission, leaching, soil denitrification, surface run-off, volatilization, contributing to atmospheric greenhouse gases and environmental p ollution[5]. For these reasons, the development of cultivars that maintain the same or superior crop yields, but require less N input, is necessary to supply food in a sustainable way. N H4+ resulting from nitrate or direct ammonium uptake through AMT is assimilated into N-containing compounds via the glutamine synthetase (GS)/glutamine-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT) cycle, and further assimilated for N metabolism through asparagine synthetase (ASN), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and aspartate aminotransferase (AAT)[10,11,12]

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Conclusion