The Open Proteomics Journal

2009, 2 : 20-29
Published online 2009 April 1. DOI: 10.2174/1875039700902010020
Publisher ID: TOPROTJ-2-20

Analysis of Proteins Associated with Chinch Bug (Blissus leucopterus leucopterus Say)-Infested Corn (Zea mays L.) Seedlings

Puthenveedu Sadasivan Pillai Sita R. Ghimire , Sonya M. Baird , Gerald T. Baker and Peter W.K. Ma
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, P.O. Box 9775, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.

ABSTRACT

A proteomics approach was used to study the proteins associated with chinch bug infested corn seedlings. Examination of two-dimensional gels revealed the presence of more than 600 high quality protein spots each from chinch bug-infested and healthy corn seedlings. A total of 31 protein spots was selected for matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis. Among the protein spots selected, 13 were from infested plants, 10 from healthy plants, and four each from healthy and infested plants having differential expressions. Peptide mass fingerprinting revealed that each spot analyzed represents a different protein. Thirty-nine percent of the proteins had confirmed identity and the rest were tentatively identified. Among 13 proteins analyzed from infested seedlings most were related to defense, cell rescue, virulence and metabolism. Some of these proteins related to metabolism and protein synthesis were down-regulated in the infested seedlings. All proteins except one from infested corn seedlings seem to be activated in the plant system because of the chinch bug-induced stresses including osmotic, oxidative and acid stresses, and wounding.

Keywords:

Goose-necking, peptide mass fingerprinting, post-translational modification, protein extraction.