AUTHOR=López-Castillo Laura M. , López-Arciniega Janet A. I. , Guerrero-Rangel Armando , Valdés-Rodríguez Silvia , Brieba Luis G. , García-Lara Silverio , Winkler Robert 

TITLE=Identification of B6T173 (ZmPrx35) as the prevailing peroxidase in highly insect-resistant maize (Zea mays, p84C3) kernels by activity-directed purification

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2015.00670

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2015.00670

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Plant peroxidases (PODs) are involved in diverse physiological processes, including defense against pathogens and insects. Contrary to their biological importance, only very few plant PODs have been proven on protein level, because their low abundance makes them difficult to detect in standard proteomics work-flows. A statistically significant positive correlation between POD activity and post-harvest insect resistance has been found for maize (<italic>Zea mays</italic>, p84C3) kernels. In combining activity-directed protein purification, genomic and proteomic tools we found that protein B6T173 (ZmPrx35) is responsible for the majority of the POD activity of the kernel. We successfully produced recombinant ZmPrx35 protein in <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> and demonstrate both, <italic>in vitro</italic> activity and the presence of a haem (heme) cofactor of the enzyme. Our findings support the screening for insect resistant maize variants and the construction of genetically optimized maize plants.</p>