In order to reveal the aluminum (Al) stress tolerance mechanisms in alfalfa plant at low pH soil, a proteomic approach has been conducted. Alfalfa plants were exposed to Al stress for 5 days. The plant growth and total chlorophyll content are greatly affected by Al stress. The malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 contents were increased in a low amount but free proline and soluble sugar contents, and the DPPH-radical scavenging activity were highly increased. These results indicate that antioxidant activity (DPPH activity) and osmoprotectants (proline and sugar) may involve in ROS (H2O2) homeostasis under Al stress. In proteomic analysis, over 500 protein spots were detected by 2-dimentional gel electrophoresis analysis. Total 17 Al stress-induced proteins were identified, of which 8 protein spots were up-regulated and 9 were down-regulated. The differential expression patterns of protein spots were selected and analyzed by the peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) using MALDI-TOF MS analysis. Three protein spots corresponding to Rubisco were significantly down-regulated whereas peroxiredoxin and glutamine synthetase were up-regulated in response to Al stress. The different regulation patterns of identified proteins were involved in energy metabolism and antioxidant / ROS detoxification during Al stress in alfalfa. Taken together, these results provide new insight to understand the molecular mechanisms of alfalfa plant in terms of Al stress tolerance.

엽록제 small HSP의 기능을 조사하기 위하여 항상적으로 발현하는 형질전환 식물체를 작성하였다. 고온 스트레스 하에서의 형질전환 식물체의 고온내성을 chlorophyll 형광으로 측정하였다. Leaf disc를 고온조건에서 5분간 처리한 후, 광화학계 II의 불활성화를 나타내는 Fo 값의 증가 또는 Fv 값의 감소치를 조사하였다. 형질전환 식물체는 고온 스트레스 하에서의 이들 값의 증감율이 현격히 감소하였다. 또한 유식물체를 에서 45분간 처리한 후, 에서 계속적으로 배양하였을 때, 비형질전환 식물체는 전부 고사하였으나, 형질전환 식물체의 약 80%는 생존하였다. 이러한 결과는 엽록체 small HSP가 고온 스트레스 하에서 광합성기구를 보호하는데 있어서 중요한 기능을 담당하고 있음을 나타낸다.