Analysis of Translation Elongation Factors from Wheat during Development and Following Heat Shock

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 1998-04, Vol.245 (2), p.295-300
• Main Authors: Gallie, Daniel R., Le, Hanh, Caldwell, Christian, Browning, Karen S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Germination - physiology; Hot Temperature; Peptide Elongation Factor 1; Peptide Elongation Factor 2; Peptide Elongation Factors - metabolism; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Protein Biosynthesis - genetics; Seeds - chemistry; Triticum - chemistry; TRITICUM AESTIVUM
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1998.8427

Translational activity in plants undergoes rapid changes during developmental stages such as seed formation and germination, and during abiotic stresses such as heat shock, hypoxia and wounding. We examined the protein levels and isoelectric state of two components of the translation machinery, elongation factor (EF) 1α and 2, to determine their roles in the regulation of translation. We found that the apparent protein levels of EF1α increase relative to the EF2 levels which decline slightly during the development of the wheat seed. During germination, high levels of these factors are present in seedling tissues known to be actively engaged in translation; however, no differences in isoelectric state were observed during germination. As an example of abiotic stress, heat shock had little impact on the apparent levels of EF1α or EF2 present in wheat leaves, nor were changes in the number or levels of isoforms observed.