Proteomic Analysis of Phytophthora capsici: Identification and Characterization of Stage-Enriched Proteins Using Mass Spectrometry

Sammanfattning

Oomycetes are a broad range of highly desctructive protists that are responsible for outbreaks of crop failure all over the world both historically and today. Phytophthora capsici (P. capsici) is a highly destructive oomycete that affects a wide range of crops, including peppers, cucumbers, and strawberries. The potential destruction they cause to the agricultural sector makes them an economic concern. P. capsici . The pathological profile of P. capsici varies throuhgout its different reproductive stages, whereas certain pathological behaviour are isolated at specific reproductive stages. Identifiyng the bimolecular makeup of these stages provides an insight into processes such as infection and nutrient aquisition. Understanding the behaviour and chemistry behind pathogenicity is essential for developing new targeted strategies to mitigate its impact. iTRAQ-based mass spectrometry was used in order to characterize the proteomic profile of P. capsici and identify the proteins enriched in the cyst stage of its lifescycle compared to that of the mycelial stage. Data analysis using Mascot ion-MS/MS revealed a total of 254 enriched proteins, 17 of which were unique. Among the key findings were heat shock proteins (HSP70 and HSP90), cytoskeletal proteins (tubulin and actin), energy producing proteins (COX2) and translation elongation factors (EF1α and EF3). These proteins are implicated in stress response, cytoskeletal reorganization, and energy metabolism, suggesting their essential roles in early-stage infection. Functional annotation and literature comparison support their involvement in virulence and host invasion. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of P. capsici pathogenesis and highlight potential molecular targets for future therapeutic intervention.