Proteomics view of aRhizobiumisolate response to arsenite [As(III)] stress

Abstract

The genus Rhizobium colonizes in leguminous plants by symbiotic relationship and enriches soil nitrogen through the formation of the root nodule. Legumes are the appropriate crops for the recovery of marginal lands and they can easily grow in adverse climatic condition. Rhizobium sp. VMA301 was isolated from the root nodules of V. mungo, grown in arsenic contaminated field. The LC₅₀ value of arsenite for VMA301 was found to be 1.8 mM. Sixteen differentially expressed proteins were identified using RP-HPLC and MALDI ToF mass spectrometry from arsenite induced whole cell lysate soluble proteins. It is also found that nine proteins were up-regulated and seven proteins were down-regulated in comparison to the control group (cells grown without arsenite). These differential protein expressions mitigate the toxic effect of arsenite and stimulate the detoxification process.