Effects of Space Flight on Expression of Key Proteins in Rice Leaves
Zeng Deyong,
Cui Jie,
Yin Yishu,
Zhang Meng,
Shan Shan,
Gao Xin,
Zhang Yingchun,
Lu Weihong,
Sun Yeqing
Affiliations
Zeng Deyong
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150000, China; National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory For Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, Harbin 150001, China
Cui Jie
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150000, China; National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory For Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, Harbin 150001, China
Yin Yishu
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150000, China; National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory For Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, Harbin 150001, China
Zhang Meng
Dalian Maritime University, Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, Dalian 116026, China
Shan Shan
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150000, China; National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory For Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, Harbin 150001, China
Gao Xin
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150000, China; National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory For Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, Harbin 150001, China
Zhang Yingchun
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150000, China; National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory For Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, Harbin 150001, China
Lu Weihong
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150000, China; National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory For Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, Harbin 150001, China; Corresponding authors.
Sun Yeqing
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150000, China; National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory For Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, Harbin 150001, China; Dalian Maritime University, Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, Dalian 116026, China; Corresponding authors.
As a unique form of abiotic stress, the environmental conditions of outer space are expected to induce changes in plant genomes, proteomes and metabolic pathways. However, the effect of outer space conditions on the overall physiology of plants at the protein level has yet to be reported. To investigate the effects of outer space conditions on the growth- and development-related physiological processes and metabolic pathways of rice different stages, the seeds of rice variety DN423 were sent into orbit for 12.5 d aboard the SJ-10 Returning Satellite, and then the seedlings of both treated and control rice were compared at the three-leaf stage (TLS) and tillering stage (TS). In addition to comparing plant growth and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, seedling proteomes were also compared using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). Space flight increased TLS plant height by 20%, reduced and increased ROS levels of the TLS and TS seedlings, respectively, and affected the expression of 36 and 323 proteins in TLS and TS leaves, respectively. Furthermore, the functions of the differentially abundant proteins were mainly associated with metabolism, energy, and protein synthesis and degradation. These results suggested that the exposure of seeds to outer space conditions affects the subsequent abundance of key signaling proteins, gene expression, and the processes of protein synthesis and degradation, thereby affecting metabolic processes and promoting adaptation to the abiotic stress of outer space. As such, the present study sheds light on the effects of space flight on plants and contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of extraterrestrial biology.
