Dynamic changes in proteins during apple (Malus x domestica) fruit ripening and storage. (22nd January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shi, Yun; Jiang, Li; Zhang, Li; Kang, Ruoyi; Yu, Zhifang
• Is Part Of: Horticulture research. Volume 1(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-01-22
• Subjects: Plant physiology -- Proteomics; Horticulture -- Research -- Periodicals; 635.072
• DOI: 10.1038/hortres.2014.6
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-7276

Abstract

Abstract: A proteomic study, using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight, was conducted in apple fruit (cv. 'Golden Delicious') starting at 10 days prior to harvest through 50 days in storage. Total protein was extracted using a phenol/sodium dodecyl sulfate protocol. More than 400 protein spots were detected in each gel and 55 differentially expressed proteins ( p <0.05) were subjected to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight analysis. Fifty-three of these proteins were finally identified using an apple expressed sequence tag database downloaded from Genome Database for Rosaceae and placed into six categories. The categories and the percentage of proteins placed in each category were stress response and defense (49.0%), energy and metabolism (34.0%), fruit ripening and senescence (5.6%), signal transduction (3.8%), cell structure (3.8%) and protein synthesis (3.8%). Proteins involved in several multiple metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, pentose–phosphate pathway, anti-oxidative systems, photosynthesis and cell wall synthesis, were downregulated, especially during the climacteric burst in respiration and during the senescent stages of fruit development. Proteins classified as allergens or involved in cell wall degradation were upregulated during the ripening process. Some protein spots exhibited a mixed pattern (increasing to maximal abundance followed by a decrease), such as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase, L -ascorbate peroxidase and abscisic acid response proteins. The identification of differentially expressed proteins associated with physiological processes identified in the current study provides a baseline of information for understanding the metabolic processes and regulatory mechanisms that occur in climacteric apple fruit during ripening and senescence. Apple quality: profiling the proteins of change: A survey of the proteins expressed by apples during ripening and storage could help apple grower to develop harvesting practices that ensure the highest quality fruit. Zhifang Yu and colleagues from the Nanjing Agricultural University, China, measured protein levels in Golden Delicious apples ( Malus domestica ) starting at 10 days prior to harvest through 50 days of storage. They identified 53 proteins that were differentially expressed over the time course of the study. These proteins were variously involved in stress responses, energy metabolism, fruit maturation and other processes. Most anti-oxidative enzymes began to decline during the storage period, consistent with the idea that oxidative stress contributes to fruit ripening. By comparison, proteins known to trigger allergic responses to apples or cell wall degradation significantly increased during the ripening period.