Proteomic analysis of secreted protein induced by a component of prey in pitcher fluid of the carnivorous plant Nepenthes alata

• Published in: Journal of proteomics Vol. 75; no. 15; pp. 4844 - 4852
• Main Authors: Hatano, Naoya, Hamada, Tatsuro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 03-08-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; antibacterial properties; aspartic proteinases; beta-glucanase; Biological and medical sciences; Carnivorous plants; chitin; chitinase; digestion; Diverse techniques; exoskeleton; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Insecta - metabolism; insects; LC-MS/MS; leaves; Magnoliopsida - metabolism; Molecular and cellular biology; Nepenthes; nutrients; pathogens; Peroxidase; Pitcher fluid; Plant Proteins - secretion; PR protein; proteins; proteomics; Proteomics - methods; soil; LC-MS/MS; Peroxidase; Carnivorous plants; Pitcher fluid; Nepenthes; PR protein; Vegetals; Enzyme; Protein; Plant; Peroxidases; Analysis; Proteomics; Oxidoreductases; Component
• ISSN: 1874-3919; 1876-7737
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2012.05.048

The Nepenthes species are carnivorous plants that have evolved a specialized leaf organ, the ‘pitcher’, to attract, capture, and digest insects. The digested insects provide nutrients for growth, allowing these plants to grow even in poor soil. Several proteins have been identified in the pitcher fluid, including aspartic proteases (nepenthesin I and II) and pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins (β-1,3-glucanase, class IV chitinase, and thaumatin-like protein). In this study, we collected and concentrated pitcher fluid to identify minor proteins. In addition, we tried to identify the protein secreted in response to trapping the insect. To make a similar situation in which the insect falls into the pitcher, chitin which was a major component of the insect exoskeleton was added to the fluid in the pitcher. Three PR proteins, class III peroxidase (Prx), β-1,3-glucanase, and class III chitinase, were newly identified. Prx was induced after the addition of chitin to the pitcher fluid. Proteins in the pitcher fluid of the carnivorous plant Nepenthes alata probably have two roles in nutrient supply: digestion of prey and the antibacterial effect. These results suggest that the system for digesting prey has evolved from the defense system against pathogens in the carnivorous plant Nepenthes.
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► PR proteins have been identified in the pitcher fluid of N. alata. ► Three PR proteins including class III peroxidase (Prx) were newly identified. ► Prx was induced after the addition of chitin to the pitcher fluid. ► The proteins have two roles, digestion of prey and the antibacterial effect. ► The system for digesting prey has evolved from the defense system against pathogens.