In order to characterize the significance of sulfur (S) nutrition in protein expression under iron (Fe)-deficient conditions, gel-based proteomic analysis was performed with the leaves of Brassica napus exposed to S and Fe combined treatments: sufficient in S and Fe (+S/+Fe, control), sufficient S but Fe deprived (+S/−Fe), deprived S but sufficient Fe (−S/+Fe), and deprived S and Fe (−S/−Fe). The resulting data showed that 15 proteins were down-regulated due to production of oxidative damage as indicated by H2O2 and O 2 −1 localizations and due to leaf chlorosis in leaves in S-deprived leaves either in presence (−S/+Fe) or absence of Fe (−S/−Fe), whereas these down-regulated proteins were well expressed in the presence of S (+S/−Fe) compared to control (+S/+Fe). In addition, two proteins were up-regulated under S-deprived condition in presence (−S/+Fe) and absence of (−S/−Fe) Fe. The functional classification of these identified proteins was estimated that 40 % of the proteins belong to chloroplast precursor, and rest of the proteins belongs to hypothetical proteins, RNA binding, secondary metabolism and unknown proteins. On the other hand, five protein spots from S deprived (−S/+Fe) and ten spots from Fe deprived (−S/−Fe) conditions were absent, whereas they were well expressed in presence of S (+S/−Fe) compared to control plants (+S/+Fe). These results suggest that sulfur nutrition plays an important role in alleviating protein damage in Fe-deficient plants and adaptation to Fe-deficiency in oilseed rape.
Excess of ammonia generates oxidative and osmotic stress, and results in an accumulation of compatible solutes. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological significance of excess ammonium-induced proline and sucrose accumulation on antioxidative activity and osmotic adjustment. The detached leaves of white clover (Trifolium repense L.) were fed with 0, 10, 50, 100, and 200 mM NH4Cl, and the contribution of proline and sucrose to osmotic adjustment and their relationship with antioxidative enzymes activity were assessed. A gradual decline of relative water content and osmotic potential (Wp) with increasing NH4Cl feeding level was accompanied by an increase in ammonia concentration. Significant accumulation of proline and sucrose was observed when NH4Cl was fed over 100 mM compared with control (0 mM NH4Cl). The increase in enzyme activity was significant only at 200 mM for ascorbate peroxidase (APOD) and over 100 mM NH4Cl for guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD) and catalase (CAT). The contribution of proline and sucrose to osmotic adjustment over 100 mM, where proline and sucrose accumulation was more important, maintained at control levels or significantly decreased. The content of proline and sucrose as affected by NH4Cl feeding level was positively related with the activity of APOD, GPOD, and CAT. These results suggest that proline and sucrose accumulation induced by the excess of ammonium has a more influential role in antioxidative activity rather than osmotic adjustment.