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Comparative Proteomics and Physiological Analyses Reveal Important Maize Filling-Kernel Drought-Responsive Genes and
Xuan Wang1,2, Tinashe Zenda1,2, Songtao Liu1,2
1Department of Crop Genetics and Breeding, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|August 3, 2019
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) kernel development under drought stress is improved by understanding key proteins. This study identifies crucial molecular actors and pathways for enhanced drought tolerance in maize breeding.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Proteomics
- Molecular Genetics
Background:
- Maize (Zea mays L.) kernel filling is highly sensitive to drought stress, impacting crop yield.
- Existing knowledge on molecular mechanisms of maize kernel drought tolerance is incomplete.
- Developing drought-tolerant maize varieties is crucial for food security.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively analyze the proteome of maize kernels under drought stress.
- To identify key proteins, pathways, and molecular mechanisms conferring drought tolerance.
- To provide candidate genes for breeding drought-resilient maize.
Main Methods:
- Comparative proteomics using isobaric tags for relative quantification (iTRAQ).
- Analysis of drought-tolerant (YE8112) and drought-sensitive (MO17) maize inbred lines.
- Bioinformatics analysis of differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) and metabolic pathways.
- Physiological analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
Main Results:
- Identified 5175 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) between contrasting maize lines under drought.
- Drought-tolerant line YE8112 showed enrichment in pathways like protein processing in ER and tryptophan metabolism.
- Drought-sensitive line MO17 showed involvement in starch/sucrose metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation.
- YE8112 exhibited enhanced drought tolerance due to redox PTMs, epigenetic regulation, heat shock proteins, energy metabolism, secondary metabolites, and seed storage proteins.
Conclusions:
- Elucidated key drought-responsive proteins and metabolic pathways critical for maize kernel filling.
- Highlighted the roles of redox modifications, epigenetics, HSPs, energy, and secondary metabolism in drought tolerance.
- Provided valuable insights and candidate genes for maize drought tolerance breeding.
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