Identification of Proteins Responsive to Nitrogen Deficiency in Creeping Bentgrass

Chenping Xu and Bingru Huang

Department of Plant Biology & Pathology, Rutgers University

Understanding effects of N availability on proteomics is important for increasing N use efficiency under low N fertility. This study was conducted to examine proteomic responses to N deficiency young and old leaves of creeping bentgrass. Plants (cv. ‘Penncross') were treated daily with a modified Hoagland's solution containing 6 mM nitrate-N (+N plants) or no N (-N plants). After 28 d of the treatment, leaves were harvested and proteins were separated by 2-dimensinal gel electrophoresis. Approximately 55 protein spots were differentially accumulated in response to N deficiency.  These protein spots were analyzed using mass spectrometry and most spots were identified.  Nitrogen deficiency decreased the abundance of proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism such as Rubisco, glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and glycine hydroxymethyltrnasferase, while increased the abundance of heat shock protein 70.  Our results suggest that nitrogen deficiency decline carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism.