Protein changes in response to lead stress of lead-tolerant and lead-sensitive industrial hemp

Hemp is a Pb-tolerant and Pb-accumulating plant, and the study of its tolerance mechanisms could facilitate the breeding of hemp with enhanced Pb tolerance and accumulation. In the present study, we took advantage of SWATH (sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra) technology to study the difference in proteomics between the Pb-tolerant seed-type hemp variety Bamahuoma (BM) and the Pb-sensitive fiber-type hemp variety Yunma 1(Y1) under Pb stress (3g/kg soil). A total of 63 and 372 proteins differentially expressed under Pb stress relative to control conditions were identified with liquid chromatography electro spray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in BM and Y1, respectively; with each of these proteins being classified into 14 categories. Hemp adapted to Pb stress through accelerating ATP metabolism; enhancing respiration, light absorption and light energy transfer; promoting assimilation of intercellular nitrogen (N) and carbon (C);