Effect of different concentrations of sodium chloride on proteome of germinating wheat seeds

High extracellular sodium chloride (NaCl) can perturb and even kill plant cells. Many high-NaCl-induced perturbation responses are known. As protein metabolism plays an important role in plant growth, this study was designed to identify NaCl-responsive proteins in wheat seeds. Wheat seed of cv. Jinmai-47 were treated with NaCl @ 0M, 0.1M, 0.2M concentrations. Embryo proteins were extracted from germinating seeds and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), which allowed the identification of some significantly different gel spots. At 0.1M NaCl, three new proteins were expressed with regard to control and 21 protein spots indicated up-regulation whereas 32 protein spots showed down-regulation. At 0.2M NaCl treatment, 16 proteins were up-regulated, 46 proteins were down-regulated and 2 new proteins were expressed. These data support the assumption that NaCl stress may have a regulatory role in protein metabolism of wheat seeds and adaptation to the environment acquired through regulation of gene expression.