Identification of phosphorus deficiency responsive proteins in a high phosphorus acquisition soybean (Glycine max) cultivar through proteomic analysis

•Proteomes of soybean under low and high phosphorus conditions were compared.•Provide the most comprehensive list of phosphorus deficiency responsive proteins.•40 new phosphorus starvation responsive proteins were identified.

As one of the major oil crops, soybean might be seriously affected by phosphorus deficiency on both yield and quality. Understanding the molecular basis of phosphorus uptake and utilization in soybean may help to develop phosphorus (P) efficient cultivars. On this purpose, we conducted a comparative proteomic analysis on a high P acquisition soybean cultivar BX10 under low and high P conditions. A total of 61 unique proteins were identified as putative P deficiency responsive proteins. These proteins were involved in carbohydrate metabolism, protein biosynthesis/processing, energy metabolism, cellular processes, environmental defense/interaction, nucleotide metabolism, signal transduction, secondary metabolism and other metabolism related processes. Several proteins involved in energy metabolism, cellular processes, and protein biosynthesis and processing were found to be up-regulated in both shoots and roots, whereas, proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism appeared to be down-regulated. These proteins are potential candidates for improving P acquisition. These findings provide a useful starting point for further research that will provide a more comprehensive understanding of molecular mechanisms through which soybeans adapt to P deficiency condition.