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Regulation of protein synthesis in germinating wheat embryos under polyethylene glycol and salt stress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

A. Dell'Aquila*
Affiliation:
Germplasm Institute, CNR 70126 Bari, Italy
P. Spada
Affiliation:
Germplasm Institute, CNR 70126 Bari, Italy
*
* Correspondence

Abstract

Wheat seeds were imbibed in solutions of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and NaCl, and embryo water content and incorporation of [35S]methionine into proteins were determined. Both osmotica reduced water uptake and protein synthesis, though these were immediately resumed upon removal of stress. Results of in vivo labelling of newly synthesized proteins showed differences in the synthesis of many polypeptides when embryos that had imbibed in water passed from the radicle pre-emergence phase to early growth. The synthesis of a group of proteins associated with radicle emergence was reduced during imbibition in PEG or NaCl. All the major proteins of the pre-germination phase were produced in PEG-treated embryos, while some new polypeptides (‘salt stress’ proteins?) were actively synthesized in salt-treated embryos. Upon removal of PEG or NaCl, synthesis of proteins common to the phase of early embryo growth increased, while specific saltimbibition proteins disappeared. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that biochemical processes leading to radicle emergence can be affected by osmotic stress and are likely to be damaged by severe stress.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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