Metabolic responses to the zinc stress in the roots and leaves of Amaranthus caudatus : the proteomics view

Abstract

Zinc excess (Zn stress) could lead to deleterious effects in plants such as enhanced ROS production, inhibition of photosynthetic machinery, and impairment of nutrient uptake. Hence, we aimed to investigate the complexity of metabolic responses to Zn stress in Amaranthus caudatus young and mature leaves, as well as in roots by means of proteomics. Our previous metabolomics research has indicated potential involvement of gluconate and salicylate in Zn tolerance mechanisms. However, proteomics study of metabolic adjustments underlying Zn stress tolerance can give additional insight to the issue, as a lot of enzymes are known to be affected by the excess of transitional metals. The results obtained through bottom-up proteomics were complementary to our earlier metabolomics data and, furthermore, enlightened other important details in the metabolic response of A. caudatus plants to the applied Zn stress. In particular, the significant involvement of redox-related enzymes was shown, especially for the roots, and their possible interactions with salicylate and jasmonate signaling could be proposed. Furthermore, Zn2+-induced changes in roots and young leaves strongly affected sugar metabolism, enhanced protein quality control system, while mature leaves were characterized by remarkable decrease in subunits of photosynthetic electron transport complexes. Thus, this work emphasizes massive metabolic reprogramming aimed to reinforce root defense responses while supporting young leaves with sugar metabolites. Mass spectrometry proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD069557.