Background: The current study was undertaken with a major goal of evaluating the influence of the heavy metal Copper (Cu) on growth and physiology as well as the proteomic status of Ziziphus spina-christi.

Objective: We set a hypothesis that Z. spina-christi could be a potent phytoremediator in Cu-polluted environments and the industrial area of Riyadh was chosen as a model of contaminated sites.

Methods: To address our goal, young Z. spina-christi plants were maintained in pots filled with soil comprised of sand and clay in an open area. Cu treatments were performed by subjecting young Z. spina-christi seedlings to different copper treatments [0 - 100 μM] which was supplied to the plants in the form of hydrated copper sulfate (CuSO₄.5H2O) and the treatment period lasted 45 days. To monitor plant growth during Cu exposure period, measurements of some morphological and physiological variables were taken regularly every week and the growth rates were determined.

Results: Results from proteomics showed 16 proteins participated in expression, 10 proteins showed up regulations and other six showed down regulation. Such expressed proteins are involved in plant photosynthesis process, metabolism, antioxidant enzymes as well as those associated with plant defense response and signal transduction.

Conclusion: The study outcomes offered understandings of the molecular systems linked to Cu stress condition, in addition to Cu effect on Z. spina-christi seedlings morphology and physiology. Regarding phytoremediation potential we recommend that, future experiments should be conducted on Z. spina-christi at different developmental stages to better view its Cu accumulative power.

背景：本研究的主要目标是评估重金属铜 (Cu) 对 Ziziphus spina-christi 的生长和生理以及蛋白质组学状态的影响。

目标：我们假设 Z. spina-christi 可能是铜污染环境中的有效植物修复剂，并选择利雅得工业区作为污染场地模型。

方法：为了实现我们的目标，将年轻的 Z. spina-christi 植物保存在开放区域中填充有由沙子和粘土组成的土壤的盆中。铜处理是通过将年轻的 Z. spina-christi 幼苗进行不同的铜处理 [0 - 100 μM]，以水合硫酸铜 (CuSO ₄ .5H2O)的形式提供给植物，处理期持续 45 天。为了监测铜暴露期间的植物生长，每周定期测量一些形态和生理变量，并确定生长速率。

结果：蛋白质组学结果显示16种蛋白质参与表达，10种蛋白质表达调控，其他6种表达下调。这些表达的蛋白质参与植物光合作用过程、代谢、抗氧化酶以及与植物防御反应和信号转导相关的那些。

结论：除了 Cu 对 Z. spina-christi 幼苗形态和生理学的影响之外，研究结果还提供了与 Cu 胁迫条件相关的分子系统的理解。关于植物修复潜力，我们建议未来应在不同发育阶段对 Z. spina-christi 进行实验，以更好地查看其 Cu 累积能力。