Proteomics reveals the adaptability mechanism of Brassica napus to short-term boron deprivation

Boron (B) is essential for the normal growth and development of oilseed rape. To gain better insight into the metabolic processes of Brassica napus in response to B starvation, a time course proteomics analysis of roots under conditions of hydroponic cultivation was carried out. Forty-six differentially expressed proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. These proteins were classified into the following functional categories: carbohydrate and energy metabolism, stress response, signaling and regulation, cell wall, protein process, amino acid and fatty acid metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism. In general, the energy metabolism pathway and certain biosynthesis pathways were maintained at a relatively low level, while signaling, regulation and stress response pathways were dramatically induced in the absence of B. Eight genes were selected for qPCR analysis to detect the relationships among protein and gene expression patterns. Furthermore, analyses of lipid peroxidation and glutathione reductase activity revealed that oxidative damage was induced and the antioxidative system was activated under conditions of B deficiency. These results suggest that carbon flux is a putative modulating process that controls the response to B deficiency stress, and a stable cell wall structure, resistance to oxidative damage and a complex signaling network may contribute to the tolerance to B deficiency.