Study on apoplast anti-freeze proteins in winter turnip rape (Brassica rape L.)

The objective of this paper was to lay the basis for studying cold resistance of winter rapeseed. The anti-freeze activities of apoplast proteins were determined in the ‘Longyou 6’ winter rape leaves and roots under cold vernalization. The apoplast proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and high expression proteins identified in MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry under field and pot experiments. The results showed that apoplast protein content of ‘Longyou 6’ leaves increased significantly (P < 0.05) after cold acclimation in an artificial climate chamber, reaching 92.31 μgg^-1(FW) on the fifth day, which represented an increase of 246.12% over CK. Apoplast protein content after 10–15 days of cold acclimation dropped compared with that after 5 days, but was still significantly higher than that of CK (P < 0.05). Apoplast protein content continued to increase with increasing cold acclimation time from 20 to 25 days (P < 0.05). Apoplast protein content decreased significantly with after 10 days of de-acclimation. In the process of cold acclimation, apoplast protein content of ‘Longyou 6’ leaves significantly accumulated. However, it decreased significantly after de-acclimation. Obviously, apoplast proteins of ‘Longyou 6’ winter rape belonged to low temperature induced proteins. Anti-freeze activity detection analysis suggested that apoplast proteins had re-crystallization inhibition activity. Mass spectrometry identification revealed a variety of proteins with unclear functions along with β-1-3-glucanase consistent anti-freeze proteins reported in winter rye. The class glucanase detected by mass spectrometry was found to have weaker ice crystal forms due to modification effect with reclamation and anti-freeze activity test. The test suggested that this class glucanase was a low activity anti-freeze protein. Many anti-freeze proteins were synthesized and secreted by winter rape in apoplast of leaves and roots under low temperature stress. The proteins likely played a positive role against outside low temperature. Furthermore, it was speculated that there were many undetected anti-freeze apoplast proteins responsible for the strong winter hardiness of winter rapeseed.