Integrated proteomic analysis reveals differential remodelling of defense responses in potato to herbivory by Phthorimaea operculella.

Proteomic and phospho-proteomic analysis reveals that potato defense responses to Phthorimaea operculella involve significant protein regulation, with 60 DEPs and 56 DPPs identified within 5 hours of attack.

• Why it matters: Understanding protein-level regulation in plant defense is crucial because transcriptomic data alone do not fully explain how plants respond to herbivory, limiting insights into effective resistance strategies.
• What they did: The study employed quantitative proteomics and phospho-proteomics to analyze potato leaves, identifying key differentially expressed and phosphorylated proteins, and integrating these with transcriptomic data to uncover regulatory complexity.
• The result: Findings highlight that most proteomic changes are post-transcriptionally regulated, with CDPK2 playing a dual regulatory role that enhances herbivore resistance by boosting jasmonic acid biosynthesis and modulating salicylic acid signaling.