Proteomics tools and resources for investigating protein allergens in oilseeds

Oilseeds are important renewable sources of natural products including protein and oil which are produced during the maturation (or seed filling) phase of embryo development. My lab employed high-resolution, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry to profile and identify over 500 proteins expressed during seed filling in various oilseeds including soybean, canola, castor, and Arabidopsis. The principal objective of these studies was to develop predictive models for carbon assimilation for comparison among the four oilseeds. Other uses for these large proteomic datasets have come to light including characterization of the diversity and expression of known and yet-to-be-discovered protein allergens as they accumulate during seed development. Legume oilseeds such as soybean and peanut present a human and animal health concern for a small percentage of the population that are allergic to one or more of the seed proteins. Information about the expression and diversity of 2-DE spots that map to individual genes or gene families of allergens can prove useful for breeding- or biotechnology-based approaches aimed at silencing allergen expression. We have begun releasing these proteomics datasets for public access on the Oilseed Proteomics web portal, www.oilseedproteomics.missouri.edu. I will present the status of these projects and the website with specific emphasis on soybean.