Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 37
Proteomics of Field Samples in Radioactive
Chernobyl Area
KatarĂna Klubicová , Namik M. Rashydov , and Martin Hajduch
Abstract
Two serious nuclear accidents during the past quarter of a century contaminated large agricultural areas
with radioactivity. The remediation and possible recovery of radio-contaminated areas for agricultural
purposes require comprehensive characterization of plants grown in such places. Here we describe the
quantitative proteomics method that we use to analyze proteins isolated from seeds of plants grown in
radioactive Chernobyl zone.
Key words
Chernobyl, Radioactivity, Plants, Seeds, Protein extraction, Two-dimensional
electrophoresis, In-gel digestion
1
Introduction
Nuclear accidents in Ukraine (Chernobyl, 1986) and Japan
(Fukushima, 2011) contaminated large agricultural areas with
radioactivity. Surprisingly, plants grow and successfully reproduce
in these areas. Detailed characterizations of plants grown in radio-
contaminated areas provide necessary scientifi c foundations for
agricultural recovery of areas contaminated with radioactivity [
1
,
2
]. Proteomics is method of choice for analysis of plants grown in
radio-contaminated areas because is capable to quantify hundreds
of proteins in single experiment. Moreover, proteomics visualize
metabolic changes regardless their transcriptional, translational, or
epigenetic nature [
3
].
Our group use proteomics approach to investigate developing
and matured seeds of plant species grown in radioactive Chernobyl
area since 2007. Using combination of phenol protein extraction,
protein two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), and tandem mass
spectrometry we were able to characterize mature and developing
seeds of soybean grown in radioactive Chernobyl area for two sub-
sequent generations [
4
,
5
]. Moreover, using same methodology
we investigated fl ax as suitable crop for agricultural practices in
