Phosphoproteomics of Cold Stress-Responsive Mechanisms in Rhododendron Chrysanthum

Abstract

As an alpine plant，Rhododendron chrysanthum (R. chrysanthum) has evolved cold resistance mechanisms and become a valuable plant resource with the responsive mechanism of cold stress. In my study, we adopt the phosphoproteomic and proteomic analysis combining with physiological measurement to illustrate the responsive mechanism of R. chrysanthum seedling under cold (4℃) stress. After chilling for 12 h, 350 significantly changed proteins and 274 significantly changed phosphoproteins were detected. Clusters of Orthologous Groups（COG）analysis showed that significantly changed proteins and phosphoproteins were mainly involved in signal transduction and energy production and conversion under cold stress. The results indicated photosynthesis was inhibited under cold stress, but cold induced calcium-mediated signaling, reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis and other transcription regulation factors could protect plants from the destruction caused by cold stress. These results provide a detailed insight into the cold stress response and defense mechanisms of R. chrysanthum leaves at the phosphoproteome level.