Proteomic Analysis Reveals Early Salinity Stress-Responsive Proteins in Dunaliella salina

Dunaliella salina has been recognized as a model organism for stress response research due to its high capacity to tolerate extreme salt stress. An iTRAQ-based proteomic approach was used to analyze the proteome of D. salina during early response to salt stress, and identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). A total of 141 DEPs were identified in salt-treated samples, including 75 up-regulated and 66 up-regulated proteins after 3 and 24 h salt stress (p<0.05). The patterns of protein accumulation exhibited changes, including dynamics of tricarboxylic acid cycle, photosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation pathways.