# Comprehensive Proteome and Acetylome Analysis of Needle Senescence in Larix gmelinii

## TL;DR

This study explores how proteins and acetylation changes during needle aging in a conifer tree, revealing new insights into the molecular processes behind leaf senescence.

## Contribution

The study provides the first comprehensive proteome and acetylome analysis of needle senescence in Larix gmelinii.

## Key findings

- Differential expression of 1335 proteins and 605 acetylated proteins was identified in senescent versus non-senescent needles.
- DEPs are involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, while DAPs are linked to glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle.
- Lysine acetylation significantly influences key metabolic pathways during needle senescence in L. gmelinii.

## Abstract

Leaf senescence is essential for the growth and development of deciduous trees in the next season. Larix gmelinii, a deciduous coniferous tree, exhibits its most distinctive feature by turning yellow in the autumn and eventually shedding its leaves, resulting in significant changes in its appearance during the fall. Lysine acetylation plays an important role in diverse cellular processes; however, limited knowledge is available regarding acetylations in the needle senescence of L. gmelinii. In this study, the proteomics and acetylated modification omics of two phenotypic leaves, yellow and green (senescent and non-senescent) needles, were analyzed before autumn defoliation. In total, 5022 proteins and 4469 unique acetylation sites in 2414 lysine acylated proteins were identified, and this resulted in the discovery of 1335 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and 605 differentially expressed acetylated proteins (DAPs) in yellow versus green needles. There are significant differences between the proteome and acetylome; only 269 proteins were found to be DEP and DAP, of which 136 proteins were consistently expressed in both the DEP and DAP, 91 proteins were upregulated, and 45 proteins were down-regulated. The DEPs participate in the metabolism of starch and sucrose, while the DAPs are involved in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Among them, DEPs underwent significant changes in glycolysis and citric acid cycling. Most of the enzymes involved in glycolysis and the citrate cycle were acetylated. DAPs were down-regulated in glycolysis and up-regulated in the citrate cycle. In all, the results of this study reveal the important role of lysine acetylation in the senescence of L. gmelinii needles and provide a new perspective for understanding the molecular mechanism of leaf senescence and tree seasonal growth.