EFFECT OF MERCURY EXPOSURE ON U1-70 KDA PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN EMBRYOS OF BLACK BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Abstract

Exposure to heavy metals has been documented to induce changes in the expression of plant proteins. Phaseolus vulgaris L., represents a great source of nutrition for millions of people, and is the second most important legume crop. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Hg stress on germination rate and identify the gene expression profiling of U1-70 kDa by using SDS-PAGE analysis. Seeds of black beans (P. vulgaris L.) variety Jamapa were used. The study was performed in the municipality of Guadalupe in Zacatecas, México; August 2009 to 2011. Embryos were exposed to 10 µmol L-1 HgCl2. Expression and detection of U1-70 kDa was affected by mercury. It was possible to amplify the cDNA for U1-70 kDa in all tested samples, there were also found variations in the mRNA of embryos bean seeds for western blot analysis. Mercury does not affect the germination of bean seeds P. vulgaris L.; there is variation in the expression of the U1-70 kDa protein at different hours of exposure to 10 µmol L-1 of mercury. The presence of U1-70 kDa is identified for the first time in early stages of germination of bean seeds P. vulgaris L.