Plant cells are routinely exposed to various pathogens and environmental stresses that cause cell wall perturbations. Little is known of the mechanisms that plant cells use to sense these disturbances and transduce corresponding signals to regulate cellular responses to maintain cell wall integrity. Previous studies in rice have shown that removal of the cell wall leads to substantial chromatin reorganization and histone modification changes concomitant with cell wall re-synthesis. But the genes and proteins that regulate these cellular responses are still largely unknown. Here we present an examination of the nuclear proteome differential expression in response to removal of the cell wall in rice suspension cells using multiple nuclear proteome extraction methods. A total of 382 nuclear proteins were identified with two or more peptides, including 26 transcription factors. Upon removal of the cell wall, 142 nuclear proteins were up regulated and 112 were down regulated. The differentially expressed proteins included transcription factors, histones, histone domain containing proteins, and histone modification enzymes. Gene ontology analysis of the differentially expressed proteins indicates that chromatin & nucleosome assembly, protein-DNA complex assembly, and DNA packaging are tightly associated with cell wall removal. Our results indicate that removal of the cell wall imposes a tremendous challenge to the cells. Consequently, plant cells respond to the removal of the cell wall in the nucleus at every level of the regulatory hierarchy.

The distinct stages of cotton fiber development and maturation serve as a single-celled model for studying the molecular mechanisms of plant cell elongation, cell wall development and cellulose biosynthesis. However, this model system of plant cell development is compromised for proteomic studies due to a lack of an efficient protein extraction method during the later stages of fiber development, because of a recalcitrant cell wall and the presence of abundant phenolic compounds. Here, we compared the quality and quantities of proteins extracted from 25 dpa (days post anthesis) fiber with multiple protein extraction methods and present a comprehensive quantitative proteomic study of fiber development from 10 dpa to 25 dpa. Comparative analysis using a label-free quantification method revealed 287 differentially-expressed proteins in the 10 dpa to 25 dpa fiber developmental period. Proteins involved in cell wall metabolism and regulation, cytoskeleton development and carbohydrate metabolism among other functional categories in four fiber developmental stages were identified. Our studies provide protocols for protein extraction from maturing fiber tissues for mass spectrometry analysis and expand knowledge of the proteomic profile of cotton fiber development.

<p>There is a considerable body of evidence suggestive that dehydration can negatively impact voice production. However, our understanding of the underlying biology and physiological changes, particularly at the molecular level,  that contribute to this dysphonia are limited. Further, our ability to assess underlying changes in humans is restricted largely to post-mortem tissue or tissue resected during interventional vocal fold surgery, both of which are subject to bias in age and disease state. Here we have utilized a New Zealand white rabbit model of vocal fold dehydration to probe the <em>in vivo</em> molecular response to dehydration, focusing on differential gene and protein regulation. In the first study, a single 8-hour exposure to low humidity was used to induce airway surface dehydration. RNA Sequencing was used to obtain a global snapshot of differential transcriptional regulation. This informed a second study wherein 8-hour exposures to low humidity over 15 consecutive days were used and followed by LC-MS/MS proteomic analysis to interrogate potential functional changes. In the third study, systemic dehydration was induced with a 5-day water restriction protocol. A third rehydrated group was included that returned to <em>ad libitum</em> consumption for 3 days. LC-MS/MS proteomic analysis was used. We have found evidence for transcriptional and protein expression changes under both dehydration paradigms. Our findings serve to inform our molecular biological understanding of dehydration of the vocal folds with implications to prophylaxis against and clinical intervention thereof. </p>

Cell dedifferentiation is a cell fate switching process in which a differentiated cell reverts to a status with competence for cell division and organ regeneration like an embryonic stem cell. Although the phenomenon of cell dedifferentiation has been known for over two and a half centuries in plants, little is known of the underlying mechanisms. Here, the proteome map of Arabidopsis cotyledons has been established and investigated the dynamic change of the cotyledon proteome in the time course of cell dedifferentiation. Among the 353 distinct genes, corresponding to 500 2-DE gel protein spots identified with high confidence, 12% have over twofold differential regulations within the first 48 h of induction of cell dedifferentiation. The distributions of these genes among different Gene Ontology categories and gene differential regulations within each of the categories have been examined. In addition, the cotyledon phosphoproteome has been investigated using Pro-Q Diamond Phosphoprotein in Gel Stain followed by mass spectrometry analyses. Among the 53 identified putative phosphoproteins, nine are differentially regulated during cell dedifferentiation. Arabidopsis cotyledon proteome at four different time points after the induction of cell dedifferentiation with MudPIT approach has been investigated and analyzed the protein quantity change using two labelree methods, the Spectral Count (SC) and SEQUEST Cross Correlation Coefficient (ÓXcorr) methods. Among the 662 MudPIT identified proteins, one hundred forty eight displayed differential regulation. The up-regulated proteins include transcription factors, calmodulins, translational regulators, and stress response proteins. The Spectral Count and the cross correlation coefficient quantification results are highly consistent in over 81% of the differentially regulated proteins. These studies have provided significant new insight into cell dedifferentiation process in Arabidopsis thaliana and also enhanced the Arabidopsis cotyledon proteome database established using gel based and non gel based methods. The results show that cell dedifferentiation involves extensive protein quantitative and qualitative changes in almost every cellular compartment and cellular process. Proteins like 14-3-3 proteins, Translational controlled tumor protein (TCTP) and its possible interaction protein-Translational elongation factor eEF1 alpha chain, GTP binding nuclear protein RAN2, GTP binding protein SAR1B and several other hypothetical and expressed proteins and nine other phosphoproteins showed significant differential expression during early dedifferentiation. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms regulating the cellular dedifferentiation certainly enhances the understandings and mechanisms of reprogramming all types of differentiated cells including animal cells.

Yes / Purpose: Nipple secretions are protein-rich and a potential source of breast cancer biomarkers for breast cancer screening. Previous studies of specific proteins have shown limited correlation with clinicopatholigical features. Our aim, in this pilot study, was to investigate the intra- and inter-patient protein composition of nipple secretions and the implications for their use as liquid biopsies. Experimental design: Matched pairs of NAF (n=15) were characterised for physicochemical properties and SDS PAGE. Four pairs were selected for semi-quantitative proteomic profiling and trypsin-digested peptides analysed using 2D LC Orbitrap Fusion mass spectrometry. The resulting data was subject to bioinformatics analysis and statistical evaluation for functional significance. Results: A total of 1990 unique proteins were identified many of which are established cancer associated markers. Matched pairs shared the greatest similarity (average Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.94), but significant variations between individuals was observed. Conclusions: This was the most complete proteomic study of NAF to date providing a valuable source for biomarker discovery. The high level of milk proteins in healthy volunteer samples compared to the cancer patients was associated with galactorrhoea. Using matched pairs increased confidence in patient-specific protein levels but changes relating to cancer stage require investigation of a larger cohort. / Proteomics research was supported by Yorkshire Cancer Research projects, BPP047 and B381PA.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Drought is a major abiotic stress which causes not only differences between the mean yield and the potential yield but also yield variation from year to year. Although selection for genotypes with improved productivity under drought environments has been a central goal of numerous plant breeding programs, the molecular basis for plant tolerance towards drought stress is still poorly understood. Exposure of plants to this abiotic stress is known to trigger excessive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induce cell death and reduce growth. Part of the mechanism of plant responses to drought involves alterations in the expression of antioxidant enzymes and biosynthesis of different compatible solutes such as proline. Sorghum is regarded as generally more drought tolerant than maize, and it is a potential key model system for investigating the physiological and molecular mechanisms conferring drought tolerance. Comparative studies in crop plants to decipher differences in drought tolerance are essential for crop improvement to sustain a higher level of production, which in turn will improve food security, under severe drought conditions resulting from climate change. On this basis, the aim of this study is to determine molecular differences between Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor in response to drought stress in an attempt to identify novel biomarkers for drought tolerance. The physiological and molecular responses of maize and sorghum were studied for changes in growth, chlorophyll content, relative water content, ROS content, lipid peroxidation level, proline content, and antioxidant enzyme activity. Spectral Count Label-free Quantitation analysis was conducted to reveal the changes in protein profiles under drought in attempt to identify drought-responsive molecular mechanisms in the leaves of the two plant species. In this study, water deficit triggered mechanisms that resulted in overproduction of ROS in both Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor. However, Sorghum bicolor showed less oxidative damage under water stress compared to Zea mays. Drought-induced proline accumulation in the roots of Sorghum bicolor was associated with enhanced water retention. Significant changes were identified in the antioxidant enzyme activity between the two plant species in response to drought conditions. Proteomics results showed differing patterns for drought-responsive proteins in the two species. Together with the physiological, biochemical and proteomic profiling results between Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor, potential proteins and/or metabolic pathways underlying drought tolerance were identified. The findings obtained through this study provide insight towards understanding the molecular basis of crop drought tolerance.

The members of the genus Bacillus produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites with antimetabolic and pharmacological activities. Most of these metabolites are small peptides that have unusual components and chemical bonds and synthesized nonribosomally by multifunctional enzyme complexes called peptide synthetases. Bacilysin, being produced and excreted by certain strains of Bacillus subtilis, is one of the simplest peptide antibiotics known. It is a dipeptide with an N-terminal L-alanine and an unusual amino acid, L-anticapsin, at its C-terminal. Recently, ywfBCDEF operon of B. subtilis 168 was shown to carry bacilysin biosynthesis function, the genes of this operon were renamed as bacABCDE. The first member of bac operon, bacA gene was proved to encode the function of L-alanine &ndash / L-anticapsin amino acid ligation. Bacilysin production is regulated at different levels, negatively by GTP via the transcriptional regulator CodY and AbrB while positive regulation occurs by guanosine 5

No description available.

Streptomyces, filamentous Gram-positive bacteria are producers of more than 70% of antibiotics used in human therapy and agriculture. They are remarkable because of their complex life cycle (morphological differentiation) which leads to a formation of dormant spores able to survive unfavorable living conditions and allowing long-term survival of the organism. Soil represents their mostly natural living environment. In laboratory conditions they are cultivated in liquid media or on agar. We have developed in our laboratory two phase cultivation system which allows quantitative and reproducible preparation of samples for proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of Streptomycetes differentiation. The system is composed of inert micro- beads submerged in liquid medium. We used two types of micro-beads in our studies, glass and zirconia/silica beads. We followed the surface growth and differentiation of Streptomycetes on both types of beads using optical and electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. We observed major growth and higher antibiotic production on glass beads. Another difference we observed was in size and shape of colonies. In further research, using comparative proteomics, we attempted to identify proteins which might be responsible for recognition and adhesion of Streptomycetes to...

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, responsible for nearly one in six deaths. Thus, there is a need for a greater understanding of cancer for the development of novel therapeutics. This master thesis project aims to compare the proteome signatures between dying and surviving cancer cells treated with diverse anticancer drugs. The first aim is to investigate if drug targets behave similarly and have the same sign (up- or down-regulation) in dying versus surviving cells. The second aim is to validate that combining the dying cancer cell’s proteome with the surviving cell’s can help improve drug target rankings for anticancer treatments. The third aim is to identify proteins and pathways involved in life and death decisions by comparing dying and surviving states in response to the anticancer drugs in different cell lines. First, we demonstrate that drug target behaviour in dying versus surviving cells is almost identical for nine diverse anticancer compounds with a correlation of 0.93. To identify drug targets, orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) modelling was performed to contrast the proteome signature of one anticancer drug against all other drugs and rank the proteins based on the magnitude of the model’s predictive component. There were occasions when the dying cells gave better rankings than the surviving ones. In some cases, the best target rankings were obtained when combining the data from both surviving and dying cells. To identify proteins and pathways involved in life and death decisions, OPLS-DA modelling contrasting the two states was performed, and heatmaps and scatterplots of dying and surviving log2 fold changes were made. As a result, several pathways involved in cell survival and cell death were identified. In addition, at least six proteins consistently differentially regulated between the surviving and dying cells were identified. Such proteins can be considered as putative survival (resistance) or sensitivity biomarkers and serve as potential drug targets for the development of novel anticancer agents.