Changes in Protein Synthesis in Rapeseed (Brassica napus) Seedlings during a Low Temperature Treatment

Changes induced by cold treatment in young rapeseed (Brassica napus) seedlings were investigated at the molecular level. Following germination at 18 degrees C for 48 hours, one half of the seedlings was transferred to 0 degrees C for another 48 hour period, the other half being kept at 18 degrees C as a control. Newly synthesized proteins were labeled for the last 6 hours of incubation with [(35)S]methionine. The different polypeptides were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. Newly synthesized proteins were revealed by fluorography. Protein synthesis clearly continues at 0 degrees C and some polypeptides preferentially accumulate at this temperature. On the other hand, synthesis of several others is repressed while many are insensitive to cold treatment. Similar changes are also observed when mRNA is prepared from cold treated seedlings, translated in vitro in a reticulocyte cell free system and compared with the products of mRNA extracted from control samples. Among the genes which are repressed we identified the small subunit of ribulose 1,6-bisphosphate carboxylase. These changes are also detectable after shorter treatments.