A novel cadmium induced protein in wheat: Characterization and localization in root tissue

Abstract

A 51-kDa soluble protein was over-expressed in wheat (Triticum aestivum) seedlings by the treatment of seeds before germination with 50 μM CdCl 2 for 48 h and subsequently washed off Cd2+. This protein designated as Cd stress associated protein (CSAP), was purified. Polyclonal antibody was raised against CSAP for localizing the protein in root tissue of treated and control seedlings. It was observed that CSAP was located below the plasma membrane and outer periphery of the tonoplast. This unique type of organized localization of CSAP is suggestive of defensive role against metal phytotoxicity. N-terminal analysis of CSAP and expressed sequence tags (EST) database search of wheat sequences suggests that this protein has not been reported earlier in higher plants. © 2008 Institute of Experimental Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.