RESUMEN
Soybean is a major source of protein and oil and a primary feedstock for biodiesel production. Research on soybean seed composition and yield has revealed that protein, oil and yield are controlled quantitatively and quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been identified for each of these traits. However, very limited information is available regarding the genetic mechanisms controlling seed composition and yield. To help address this deficiency, we used Affymetrix Soybean GeneChips® to identify genes that are differentially expressed between developing seeds of the Minsoy and Archer soybean cultivars, which differ in seed weight, yield, protein content and oil content. A total of 700 probe sets were found to be expressed at significantly different (defined as having an adjusted p-value below or equal to 0.05 and an at least 2-fold difference) levels between the two cultivars at one or more of the three developmental stages and in at least one of the two years assayed. Comparison of data from soybeans collected in two different years revealed that 97 probe sets were expressed at significantly different levels in both years. Functional annotations were assigned to 78% of these 97 probe sets based on the SoyBase Affymetrix™ GeneChip® Soybean Genome Array Annotation. Genes involved in receptor binding/activity and protein binding are overrepresented among the group of 97 probe sets that were differentially expressed in both years assayed. Probe sets involved in growth/development, signal transduction, transcription, defense/stress response and protein and lipid metabolism were also identified among the 97 probe sets and their possible implications in the regulation of agronomic traits are discussed. As the Minsoy and Archer soybean cultivars differ with respect to seed size, yield, protein content and lipid content, some of the differentially expressed probe sets identified in this study may thus play important roles in controlling these traits. Others of these probe sets may be involved in regulation of general seed development or metabolism. All microarray data and expression values after GCRMA are available at the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) at NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo), under accession number GSE21598.
RESUMEN
Seasonal nitrogen (N) cycling in temperate deciduous trees involves the accumulation of bark storage proteins (BSPs) in phloem parenchyma and xylem ray cells. BSPs are anabolized using recycled N during autumn leaf senescence and later become a source of N during spring shoot growth as they are catabolized. Little is known about the catabolic processes involved in remobilization and reutilization of N from BSPs in trees. In this study, we used multidimensional protein identification technology (MudPIT) and spectral counting to identify protein changes that occur in the bark during BSP catabolism. A total of 4,178 proteins were identified from bark prior to and during BSP catabolism. The majority (62%) of the proteins were found during BSP catabolism, indicating extensive remodeling of the proteome during renewed shoot growth and N remobilization. Among these proteins were 30 proteases, the relative abundances of which increased during BSP catabolism. These proteases spanned a range of families including members of the papain-like cysteine proteases, serine carboxypeptidases, and aspartyl proteases. These data identify, for the first time, candidate proteases that could potentially provide hydrolase activity required for N remobilization from BSPs and provide the foundation for research to advance our knowledge of poplar N cycling.
