Differential expression of proteins induced by lead in the Dwarf Sunflower Helianthus annuus

The Dwarf Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a hyperaccumulator of toxic metals including cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb). In order to identify stress response to Pb, plants were exposed to a mixture of 30 mg/l of three ions, Cd, Cr, and Ni, with and without Pb. Soluble proteins were resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Four proteins were differentially expressed and very abundant in the leaf samples after plants were exposed to all these four metals. The first protein spot contained two proteins: chitinase and a chloroplast drought-induced stress protein CDSP-34. The second spot contained a thaumatin-like protein. Two proteins in spot 3 were identified as heat-shock cognate 70-1 and the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. Several peptides were identified in spot 4 but none could be matched to any sequence in the NCBI database.