Fields of Wheat

Researchers in Harvey Millar's lab at the University of Western Australia are studying the proteome of wheat during respiration and under different salinity levels, reports the Australian Life Scientist. Chung Pong Lee, a PhD student, found that the mitochondrial proteome changed throughout the course of a day. "Some proteins were effectively morning proteins, midday proteins and evening proteins, that cycled in response to external cues, changing entire biochemical pathways. It seems mitochondrial function is remodelled every day and night," Millar says. In part two, the Australian Life Scientist adds that Millar and his colleagues are also studying the proteomes of cultivars that can tolerate different levels of soil salinity. "Basically, the mitochondrial proteomic differences in salt tolerance between varieties come down to differences in the expression of two respiratory proteins. In the first two varieties we have compared, the over-expression of these proteins appears to be linked to their salt-tolerance," Millar says.