Seed trait prediction by activity-based protein profiling

A method for predicting or diagnosing a plant seed trait by determining presence of a target protein in its active state in a protein sample derived from a plant seed or a plant seed lot, the method comprising:

• (i) providing the protein sample;
• (ii) contacting the protein sample or the plant seed or the plant seed lot with a chemical probe under conditions allowing formation of a conjugate of the target protein and the chemical probe,
• wherein the chemical probe comprises a warhead capable of attaching to an amino acid residue in or nearby an active site of the target protein, and
• wherein the chemical probe further comprises a reporter tag and a linker between the warhead and the reporter tag, and
• (iii) using the reporter tag to detect the conjugate of (ii),
• wherein detection of the conjugate indicates the presence of the target protein in its active state in the protein sample;
• and wherein the detection is used to predict or diagnose the plant seed trait,
• wherein the plant seed trait is selected from the group consisting of germination rate, vigour, priming, seed development, maturation, germination, dormancy, storage deterioration, seed viability, sanitary state, aging and longevity;
• and
• wherein the warhead of the chemical probe comprises a reactive group which is selected from the group consisting of epoxides, fluorophosphonases, acyloxymethylketones, epoxyketone, vinyl sulphone, and acylphosphates, or wherein the reporter tag of the chemical probe is a detectable label selected from the group consisting of fluorescent moieties, radioactive moieties, electrochemical moieties, affinity moieties, and reactive moieties.