Differential protein expression profiling in date palm stem infested with red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) using 2-D differential gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF/TOF

Plants always exposed to a wide range of both biotic and abiotic stresses and protect themselves by developing different adaptive defense mechanisms. This study investigates differentially expressed proteins in date palm stem induced by red palm weevil (RPW) infestation using 2-D differential gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF/TOF technology. We identified 32 differentially expressed protein spots and the analysis showed a very unique pattern of differential expression in infested (I) samples as compared to control (C). Majority of up regulated proteins showed the expression trend as I > C while down regulated spots showed the trend as C>I. These differential spots were further subjected to MALDI TOF/TOF analysis and a total of 22 spots were identified. Functional classification of identified proteins showed that a large number of proteins were involved in ion transport and ion homogenesis, while other category was classified as carbohydrate biosynthesis (5%), plant defense (5%), ethylene signaling pathway (5%), protein folding (5%), carbohydrate metabolism (5%), proteolysis (5%), S-adenosylmethionine biosynthetic process (5%), nitrate assimilation (5%), porphyrin biosynthesis (5%), transcription (5%), and unknown (5%). A useful marker protein would be helpful to develop for early diagnosis of RPW infestation in date palm plants.