Comparative proteomics analysis of pomegranate peel in fruit maturation period

【Objective】Fruit peel in pomegranates is of economic relevance,yet scarcely studied andpoorly understood in China. The aim of this study is to explore the metabolic process of the pomegranatepeel in fruit maturation period at the proteomic level.【Methods】We compared the proteomic differencesbetween‘Zhongnonghong'( red peel)and‘Sanbai'( white peel)pomegranates by two- dimensionalelectrophoresis(2-DE)and MALDI-TOF-TOF MS.【Results】892 and 890 protein spots were detectedon 2-DE gels respectively in two varieties,and 36 protein spots existed two times difference in expres-sion(P<0.05)between two varities. Compared with‘Zhongnonghong',‘Sanba'possessed 13 up-regu-lated and 19 down-regulated proteins. We identified and annotated 4 of these by using MALDI-TOF-TOF MS i.e. Cysteine synthase isoform 1(sport 1402),Cytochrome b6-f complex iron(sport 0013),pu-tative chlorophyll a/b-binding protein(sport 5108)and fructokinase-2-like(sport 0503).【Conclusion】Cysteine synthase isoform 1(sport 1402)might play a role in improving anti- oxidation capability of pomegranate in the period of fruit maturation. The other three proteins may be related to fruit peel colorchanges. The results may provide a foundation for proteomic study of pomegranate fruit development andimproving the quality of pomegranate fruit.