| |
Heavy Metal-Induced Protein Changes in Amaranthus spinosus L.: A comparative SDS- PAGE Study of Roots and Leaves
Mary Sheeba, A.
Abstract
Research on protein profiling in plants exposed to heavy metal pollution is essential for understanding how plants react to harmful metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury. Plants exposed to heavy metals exhibit markedly altered protein profiles, with some proteins being repressed and others overexpressed. In order to deal with metal toxicity, these modifications aid plants in developing tolerance mechanisms. In this study, SDS-PAGE analysis is used to examine the effects of heavy metal stress (Pb, Cd, and Cr) on protein profiles in Amaranthus spinosus. The findings demonstrate observable alterations in electrophoretic protein bands, with metal-treated plants exhibiting the emergence of new bands and the elimination of pre-existing ones in contrast to controls. Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) are important in plant defense systems, and the study reveals certain polypeptides linked to heavy metal stress tolerance. This study shows that heavy metal stress (Pb, Cd, and Cr) dramatically changes the protein profiles of Amaranthus spinosus, causing some stress-related polypeptides, such as HSPs, to be expressed while suppressing others. The plant’s defenses against metal poisoning are demonstrated by the observed alterations in protein band patterns. These results highlight the potential of protein profiling as a method for comprehending plant tolerance to heavy metals.
Keywords: Heavy metal toxicity, SDS-PAGE, Electrophoretic protein bands, Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs), Stress tolerance, Environmental biotechnology
Author for correspondence
Mary Sheeba, A (mary.sheeba@mic.ac.in)
|
|
