Oligogalacturonides (OGs), derived from the degradation of the plant cell wall homogalacturonan, are elicitors of plant defence responses. A proteomic study of the nuclear compartment was carried out in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings in order to identify proteins whose abundance varied in response to OGs. A nuclear protein map was obtained and 72 spots corresponding to 58 different proteins were identified by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry. OG-induced changes in protein spot abundance were studied by two-dimensional difference in gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). Significant changes in protein abundance were observed for 19 protein spots. Proteins responding to the OG treatment were mainly involved in the protein translation machinery and regulation suggesting a general reprogramming of the plant cell metabolism in response to OGs. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.