Chloroplast proteomic analysis of Triticum aestivum L. seedlings responses to low levels of UV-B stress reveals novel molecular mechanism associated with UV-B tolerance.

In this study, we have investigated UV-B-induced alterations including chloroplast ultrastructure, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, physiological metabolism, and chloroplast proteome profile. Comparison of seedling phenotypic characterization and physiological status revealed that the low level of 1.08 KJ m of UV-B irradiation had no obvious effects on seedling phenotype and growth and maintained better chloroplast ultrastructure and higher photosynthetic efficiency. Nevertheless, the high dose of 12.6 KJ m of UV-B stress caused significant inhibitory effects on the growth and development of wheat seedlings. Proteomic analysis of chloroplasts with or without 1.08 KJ m of UV-B irradiation identified 50 differentially expressed protein spots, of which 35 were further analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. These proteins were found to be involved in multiple cellular metabolic processes including ATP synthesis, light reaction, Calvin cycle, detoxifying and antioxidant reactions, protein metabolism, malate and tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, and signal transduction pathway. We also identified 3 novel UV-B-responsive proteins, spots 8801, 8802, and 9201, and predicted three new proteins might be UV-B protective proteins. Our results imply chloroplasts play a central protective role in UV-B resistance of wheat seedlings and also provide novel evidences that UV-B stress directly affects on the structure and function of chloroplasts and explore molecular mechanisms associated with plant UV-B tolerance from chloroplast perspective.