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The inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis weakens the drought tolerance in white clover (Trifolium repens) associated with the alteration of extensive proteins

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Abstract

Changes of endogenous polyamine (PA) levels could be a key adaptive response to drought in plants. White clover pretreated with or without dicyclohexylamine (DCHA), an inhibitor of PA biosynthesis, was subjected to drought stress induced by 18% polyethylene glycol 6000 for 8 days in controlled growth chambers. Results showed that drought stress significantly increased endogenous PA content, whereas DCHA significantly decreased PA accumulation under drought stress. The attenuate PA biosynthesis was unfavorable for plant growth and drought tolerance, as reflected by significantly lower relative water content, relative growth rate, instantaneous water use efficiency, and cell membrane stability in leaves in response to drought. On the basis of proteomic analysis, the inhibition of PA synthesis decreased the accumulation of many key differentially expressed proteins including (1) ribosomal structure and biogenesis: elongation factor, ribosomal protein S10E, and 30S ribosomal protein; (2) amino acid transport and metabolism: cysteine synthase, delta-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase, and glutamate decarboxylase; (3) carbohydrate metabolism and energy production: photosystem apoprotein, sucrose-phosphate synthase, phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, sucrose-phosphatase, NADH oxidoreductase, and ATP synthase; (4) antioxidant metabolism: catalase, peroxidase I, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase; and (5) other biological processes: heat shock protein 70, heat shock protein 90, and calcium-dependent protein kinase associated with the decreased drought tolerance in white clover. These findings indicate that PAs play a critical role in the regulation of growth, ribosome, amino acid and energy metabolism, and antioxidant reactions in white clover under drought stress. Drought-induced increases in endogenous PAs could be one of key adaptive responses against drought stress in white clover.

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Abbreviations

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

CAT:

Catalase

CDPK:

Calcium-dependent protein kinase

Chl:

Chlorophyll

DEPs:

Differentially expressed proteins

DCHA:

Dicyclohexylamine

GST:

Glutathione S-transferase

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatograph

HSPs:

Heat shock proteins

LSD:

Least significant difference

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

PAs:

Polyamines

Pn:

Net photosynthetic rate

POD:

Peroxidase

Put:

Putrescine

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

RWC:

Relative water content

RGR:

Relative growth rate

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

Spd:

Spermidine

Spm:

Spermine

Tr:

Transpiration rate

WUE:

Water use efficiency

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Funding

This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31372371), Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System (No.CARS-35-05), and Sichuan Province Support Project (No. 2013NZ0013).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    Zhou Li, Yan Zhang, Dandan Peng, Yan Peng, Xinquan Zhang, Xiao Ma, Linkai Huang & Yanhong Yan

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  1. Zhou Li
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  2. Yan Zhang
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  3. Dandan Peng
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  4. Yan Peng
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  8. Yanhong Yan
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Contributions

Prof. Yan Peng designed the experiments and provided materials and funding; Dr. Zhou Li performed experiments and wrote the manuscript; Dr. Zhou Li, Yan Zhang, and Dandan Peng analyzed the data; Prof. Xinquan Zhang and Xiao Ma provided reagents and materials; Prof. Linkai Huang and Yanhong Yan improved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yan Peng.

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Li, Z., Zhang, Y., Peng, D. et al. The inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis weakens the drought tolerance in white clover (Trifolium repens) associated with the alteration of extensive proteins. Protoplasma 255, 803–817 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-017-1186-9

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