title: Proteomic analysis of amino acid metabolism differences between wild and cultivated Panax ginseng.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to compare the relative abundance of proteins and amino acid metabolites to explore the mechanisms underlying the difference between wild and cultivated ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) at the amino acid level.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation were used to identify the differential abundance of proteins between wild and cultivated ginseng. Total amino acids in wild and cultivated ginseng were compared using an automated amino acid analyzer. The activities of amino acid metabolism-related enzymes and the contents of intermediate metabolites between wild and cultivated ginseng were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and spectrophotometric methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that the contents of 14 types of amino acids were higher in wild ginseng compared with cultivated ginseng. The amino acid metabolism-related enzymes and their derivatives, such as glutamate decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine, all had high levels of accumulation in wild ginseng. The accumulation of sulfur amino acid synthesis-related proteins, such as methionine synthase, was also higher in wild ginseng. In addition, glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle-related enzymes as well as their intermediates had high levels of accumulation in wild ginseng.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study elucidates the differences in amino acids between wild and cultivated ginseng. These results will provide a reference for further studies on the medicinal functions of wild ginseng.
authors.affiliation: Jilin Technology Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Biotechnology, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China; College of Biology and Chemistry, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Fangbing
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Jilin Technology Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Biotechnology, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China; College of Biology and Chemistry, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Liwei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Jilin Technology Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Biotechnology, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China; College of Biology and Chemistry, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianzeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Jilin Technology Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Biotechnology, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China; College of Biology and Chemistry, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China; Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Manying
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Xuenan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Jilin Technology Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Biotechnology, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China; College of Biology and Chemistry, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaohao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Jilin Technology Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Biotechnology, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China; College of Biology and Chemistry, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Jilin Technology Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Biotechnology, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China; College of Biology and Chemistry, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Jilin Technology Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Biotechnology, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China; College of Biology and Chemistry, Beihua University, Jilin Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiang
keywords: Panax ginseng Meyer; amino acid metabolism; cultivated ginseng; proteomics; wild ginseng