Proteomic analysis of “Oriental Beauty” oolong tea leaves with different degrees of leafhopper infestation

• Published in: Rapid communications in mass spectrometry Vol. 34; no. 15; pp. e8825 - n/a
• Main Authors: Chien, Han‐Ju, Yang, Man‐Miao, Wang, Wei‐Chen, Hong, Xiang‐Gui, Zheng, Yi‐Feng, Toh, Jie‐Teng, Wu, Chia‐Chang, Lai, Chien‐Chen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 15.08.2020
• Subjects: Animals; Aroma; Biosynthesis; Camellia sinensis - chemistry; Camellia sinensis - genetics; Camellia sinensis - metabolism; Camellia sinensis - parasitology; Carbohydrate metabolism; Carbohydrates; Chromatography, Liquid; Electrophoresis; Feeding Behavior; Flavoring Agents - chemistry; Flavoring Agents - metabolism; Gene expression; Hemiptera - physiology; Infestation; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Metabolism; Odorants - analysis; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Leaves - genetics; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant Leaves - parasitology; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Proteins; Proteomics; Taiwan; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Taste; Tea; Taiwan
• ISSN: 0951-4198; 1097-0231
• DOI: 10.1002/rcm.8825

Rationale Oriental Beauty, a type of oolong tea native to Taiwan, is highly prized by connoisseurs for its unique fruity aroma and sweet taste. Leaves of Oriental Beauty vary in appearance, aroma, and taste, depending on the degree of tea green leafhopper (Jacobiasca formosana) infestation. In this study, the aim is to investigate the differential expression of proteins in leaves with low, medium, and high degrees of leafhopper infestation. Methods Proteomic techniques 2DE (two‐dimensional electrophoresis) and nanoscale liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) were used to investigate the differential expression of proteins in tea leaves with different degrees of leafhopper infestation. Results A total of 89 proteins were found to exhibit significant differences in expression. In a gene ontology analysis, most of these proteins participated in biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, transport, responses to stress, and amino acid metabolism. Conclusions These results indicated that the unique aroma and taste of the leaves might be influenced by their protein expression profiles, as well as related factors such as defensive responses to tea green leafhopper saliva.