An attempt was made to link rice embryo proteins to DNA sequences and to understand their functions. One hundred of the 700 spots detected on the embryo 2-DE gels were microsequenced. Of these, 28% of the embryo proteins were matched to DNA sequences with known functions, but 72% of the proteins were unknown in functions as previously reported (Woo et al. 2002). In addition, twenty-four protein spots with 100% of homology and nine with over 80% were matched to ESTs (expressed sequence tags) after expanding the amino acid sequences of the protein spots by Database searches using the available rice EST databases at the NCBI (http://www/ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) and DDBJ (http://www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp/). The chromosomal location of some proteins were also obtained from the rice genetic map provided by Japanese Rice Genome Research Program (http://rgp.dna.affrc.go.jp). The DNA sequence databases including EST have been reported for rice (Oryza sativa L.) now provides whole or partial gene sequence, and recent advances in protein characterization allow the linking proteins to DNA sequences in the functional analysis. This work shows that proteome analysis could be a useful tool strategy to link sequence information and to functional genomics.

The wheat-rye translocation lines have been agriculturally developed for the resistance to the biotypes of Hessian fly as a major insect pest of wheat. In order to compare the proteomic profiles between ‘Coker797’ (non-2RL), ‘Hamlet’ (2RL), and near-isogenic line (NIL) carrying 2RL, we evaluated the protein extraction and preparation methods for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis approach. The tissues such as leaves, stems, and roots from three wheat-rye lines were extracted by following trichloroacetic acid (TCA)/acetone precipitation. In a preliminary proteome analysis, a commonly expressed protein in Hamlet and NIL strain was identified as methionine synthase annotated in Hordeum vulgare subsp. The present study will provide the experimental guideline for the proteomic study of other useful crop plant tissues.