Planta Med 2012; 78 - PB3
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320332

Protein and metabolic profiles of Peperomia Obtusifolia (Piperaceae)

ANL Batista 1, JM Batista Jr. 1, GJ Zocolo 1, MVB Zanoni 1, MJ Kato 2, SN López 3, M Furlan 1
  • 1Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Araraquara, SP 14800–900, Brazil
  • 2Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo – USP, São Paulo, SP 05508–900, Brazil
  • 3Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario S2002LRK, Argentina

Proteomics has been used for many applications in plant sciences, including the study of biosynthetic pathways leading to secondary metabolites. Phytochemical studies on Peperomia obtusifolia have led to the isolation of several meroterpenes, including prenylated chromanes with potent trypanocidal activity [1] as well as novel monoterpene chromane esters [2]. Such biosynthesis would require the involvement of PKS and prenyltransferases for the formation of aromatic (orsellinic acid derivatives) and the lipophylic moieties, respectively. Since these types of compounds are of limited occurrence in nature, Peperomia species represent an interesting model to investigate these keys biosynthetic steps. Herein we report comparative protein and metabolic profiles of roots, stems, and leaves from adult plants of P. obtusifolia. The protein profiles were obtained using SDS-PAGE and 2-DE while the metabolic ones were determined by HPLC-PAD-MS analyses. A possible correlation between the protein and metabolic profiles will be presented.

[1] Planta Med. 2009, 75, 620; [2] J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 2603.