# Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Ridge Gourd Seed (Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.) during Artificial Aging

## TL;DR

This study uses proteomics to analyze how ridge gourd seeds age, identifying proteins linked to stress and metabolism that could help improve seed storage.

## Contribution

The study identifies aconitase and glutathione pathway enzymes as potential biomarkers for seed aging in ridge gourd.

## Key findings

- A total of 855 proteins were identified, with changes in oxidative stress and metabolism-related proteins during aging.
- Mitochondrial and ribosomal proteins were among the most affected by the aging process.
- Aconitase and glutathione pathway enzymes are suggested as biomarkers for aged ridge gourd seeds.

## Abstract

Seed aging is a complicated process influenced by environmental
conditions, impacting biochemical processes in seeds and causing deterioration
that results in reduced viability and vigor. In this study, we investigated
the seed aging process of ridge gourd, which is one of the most exported
commercial seeds in Thailand using sequential window acquisition of
all theoretical fragment ion spectra mass spectrometry. A total of
855 proteins were identified among the two groups (0 d/15 d and 0
d/30 d). The Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes
analyses of differentially expressed proteins revealed that in ridge
gourd seeds, the aging process altered the abundance of proteins related
to the oxidative stress response, nutrient reservoir, and metabolism
pathway. The most identified DEPs were mitochondrial proteins, ubiquitin–proteasome
system proteins, ribosomal proteins, carbohydrate metabolism-related
proteins, and stress response-related proteins. This study also presented
the involvement of aconitase and glutathione pathway-associated enzymes
in seed aging, with aconitase and total glutathione being determined
as possible suggestive biomarkers for aged ridge gourd seeds. This
acquired knowledge has the potential to considerably improve growing
methods and seed preservation techniques, enhancing seed storage and
maintenance.