Protein glycosylation as a long-distance signaling cue in sunflower seedlings under NaCl stress

Abstract

Sunflower is an important oil seed crop cultivated world-wide. The early phase of seed germination and seedling growth is important to establish the mechanisms of physiological and molecular pathways associated with salinity tolerance in the crop. The cotyledons in sunflower are important lipid reserve and, therefore, represent unique system to study the intersection of protein and lipid metabolism under NaCl stress. The present work provides information on the role of NaCl stress (120 mM) in differential regulation of protein glycosylation at the early stage of seedling development in sunflower. We analyzed cytosolic proteins for the detection of protein glycosylation from roots and cotyledons of two-day old (dark grown) seedlings. Furthermore, cotyledons were used for the extraction of oil-body membrane proteins which were also analzyed as potential markers of protein glycosylation. Thus, the present work provides preliminary information on the role of NaCl stress and subsequent protein glycosylation as a long distance signaling in sunflower.