Proteome analysis and differential expression by JA driven elicitation in Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees using Q-TOF-LC-MS/MS

Key message Andrographis paniculata proteome showed 3308 control proteins, 3994 in JA elicited tissue. Differential expression study indicated 621 downregulated, 201 upregulated proteins. KEGG revealed terpenoid biosynthesis upregulation attributed to enhanced andrographolide. Andrographis paniculata plantlets were elicited with 50 mu M jasmonic acid (JA) in vitro for 1 week and proteome analysis was carried out. HPLC analysis revealed enhanced andrographolide content in JA treated plantlets. Isolated protein samples from both JA treated and untreated control plantlets were analysed by Q-TOF-LC-MS/MS. JA elicitation influenced expression of 22 proteins involved in the isoprenoid pathway in treated and three with untreated plantlets. 3308 proteins in control and 3994 from JA elicited were identified with 1393 found common in both. The differential expression study of proteins revealed a pattern with 621 decreased and 201 enhanced. About 40 metabolic processes identified by functional annotation of proteins and highly elevated (5.7%) post-translational modifications were observed in JA treated. KEGG analysis unveiled appearance of additional secondary metabolism related proteins; primarily phenylpropanoids, isoprenoids and flavonoids from both elicited and untreated. Various transcription factors such as DREB's, MYC's, WRKY, and MED which uniquely influenced terpenoid biosynthesis were identified through differential expression study following JA elicitation. The total proteome and differential expression of proteins in JA elicited and untreated in vitro grown A. paniculata plantlets are reported for the first time. These finding will be of significance in understanding elicitation mechanism, gene regulation, metabolic network changes in post elicitation scenario, search of new/novel compounds and developing strategies for manipulating yield enhancement of plant-derived bioactive molecules in general and diterpene lactones in particular.