Identification of Salt-induced Changes in Leaf and Root Proteomes of the Wild Tomato, Solanum chilense

This study was performed to determine salt-induced changes in leaf and root proteomes after wild tomato (Solanum chilense) plants were treated with 200mM NaCl. In leaf tissues, a total of 176 protein spots showed significant changes (P < 0.05), of which 104 spots were induced and 72 spots suppressed. Salt-induced proteins are associated with the following pathways: photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, glyoxylate shunt, glycine cleavage system, branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis, protein folding, defense and cellular protection, signal transduction, ion transport, and antioxidant activities. Suppressed proteins belong to the following categories: oxidative phosphorylation pathway, photorespiration and protein translational machinery, oxidative stress, and ATPases. In root tissues, 106 protein spots changed significantly (P < 0.05) after the salt treatment, 63 spots were induced, and 43 suppressed by salt treatment. Salt-induced proteins are associated with the following functional pathways: regeneration of S-adenosyl methionine, protein folding, selective ion transport, antioxidants and defense mechanism, signal transduction and gene expression regulation, and branched-chain amino acid synthesis. Salt-suppressed proteins are receptor kinase proteins, peroxidases and germin-like proteins, malate dehydrogenase, and glycine dehydrogenase.