title: Differential proteomics analysis to identify proteins and pathways associated with male sterility of soybean using iTRAQ-based strategy.
abstract: To further elucidate the molecular mechanism of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in soybean, a differential proteomic analysis was completed between the CMS line NJCMS1A and its maintainer NJCMS1B using iTRAQ-based strategy. As a result, 180 differential abundance proteins (DAPs) were identified, of which, 60 were down-regulated and 120 were up-regulated in NJCMS1A compared with NJCMS1B. Bioinformatic analysis showed that 167 DAPs were annotated in 41 Gene Ontology functional groups, 106 DAPs were classified into 20 clusters of orthologous groups of protein categories, and 128 DAPs were enrichment in 53 KEGG pathways. Fifteen differential level proteins/genes with the same expression pattern were identified in the further conjoint analysis of DAPs and the previously reported differential expression genes. Moreover, multiple reaction monitoring test, qRT-PCR analysis and enzyme activity assay validated that the iTRAQ results were reliable. Based on functional analysis of DAPs, we concluded that male sterility in NJCMS1A might be related to insufficiencies in energy supply, unbalance of protein synthesis and degradation, disruption of flavonoid synthesis, programmed cell death, abnormalities of substance metabolism, etc. These results might facilitate our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind CMS in soybean.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Soybean is an important global crop that provides protein and oil. Heterosis is a significantly potential approach to increase the yield of soybean. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) plays a vital role in the production of hybrid seeds. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms of male sterility in soybean still need to be further elucidated. In the present paper, a differential proteomic analysis was carried out and the results showed that several key proteins involved in key pathways were associated with male sterility in soybean. This work provides a new insight to understand the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying CMS in soybean.
authors.affiliation: Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General), State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China. Electronic address: lijia6862@163.com.
authors.forename: Jiajia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General), State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China. Electronic address: xlding2012@163.com.
authors.forename: Xianlong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General), State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China. Electronic address: hmyh1202@163.com.
authors.forename: Shaohuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General), State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China. Electronic address: ht142857@163.com.
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General), State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China. Electronic address: haozhang1223@163.com.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General), State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China. Electronic address: dashu6090@163.com.
authors.forename: Longshu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General), State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China. Electronic address: spyung@126.com.
authors.forename: Shouping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General), State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China. Electronic address: sri@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Junyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gai
mesh_terms: D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D051479:Plant Infertility; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D040901:Proteomics; D013025:Glycine max / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins
keywords: Conjoint analysis; Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS); Proteomics; Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.); Transcriptomics; iTRAQ