Complementary analyses of the transcriptome and iTRAQ proteome revealed mechanism of ethylene dependent salt response in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In order to clarify the ethylene dependent salt response mechanism in wheat, 2-week-old wheat seedlings of cultivar 'Qingmai 6' treated with water, sodium chloride (NaCl), NaCl and ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), and NaCl and ethylene signaling inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) were collected and analyzed by transcriptional sequencing and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) proteomics. At least 1140 proteins and 73,401 genes were identified, and proteins including ribosomal proteins (RPs), nucleoside diphosphate kinases (CDPKs), transaldolases (TALs), beta-glucosidases (BGLUs), phosphoenlpyruvate carboxylases (PEPCs), superoxide dismutases (SODs), and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases (6-PGDHs) were significantly differently expressed. These genes and proteins revealed that ethylene dependent salt response through RPs activation, chaperones synthesis, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and carbohydrate metabolites pathway. Our results provided transcriptomics and proteomics information with respect to the molecular mechanisms of ethylene regualted salt response.