Cadmium induced mitochondrial redox changes in germinating pea seed

Mitochondria Specific Antioxidant, MitoTEMPO, Modulates Cd Uptake and Oxidative Response of Soybean Seedlings

Numerous reports find that Cd induces formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. However, a general ROS pool is usually studied, without distinction of their production site. In the present study, we applied a mitochondria-specific antioxidant, MitoTEMPO, to elucidate the role of mitochondria-derived ROS in the response of soybean seedlings to short-term (48 h) Cd stress. The obtained results showed that Cd caused a reduction in root length and fresh weight and increase in the level of superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, markers of lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric reactive substances, TBARS) and markers of RNA oxidation (8-hydroxyguanosine, 8-OHG) in seedling roots. Application of MitoTEMPO affected Cd uptake in a dose-dependent manner and diminished the Cd-dependent induction of superoxide anion and lipid peroxidation.

A Genome Wide Association Study Revealed Key Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms/Genes Associated With Seed Germination in Gossypium hirsutum L

Fast and uniform seed germination is essential to stabilize crop yields in agricultural production. It is important to understand the genetic basis of seed germination for improving the vigor of crop seeds. However, little is known about the genetic basis of seed vigor in cotton. In this study, we evaluated four seed germination-related traits of a core collection consisting of 419 cotton accessions, and performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to explore important loci associated with seed vigor using 3.66 million high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The results showed that four traits, including germination potential, germination rate, germination index, and vigor index, exhibited broad variations and high correlations. A total of 92 significantly associated SNPs located within or near 723 genes were identified for these traits, of which 13 SNPs could be detected in multiple traits. Among these candidate genes, 294 genes were expressed at seed germination stage. Further function validation of the two genes of higher expression showed that Gh_A11G0176 encoding Hsp70-Hsp90 organizing protein negatively regulated Arabidopsis seed germination, while Gh_A09G1509 encoding glutathione transferase played a positive role in regulating tobacco seed germination and seedling growth. Furthermore, Gh_A09G1509 might promote seed germination and seedling establishment through regulating glutathione metabolism in the imbibitional seeds. Our findings provide unprecedented information for deciphering the genetic basis of seed germination and performing molecular breeding to improve field emergence through genomic selection in cotton.

Reactive oxygen species, auxin and nitric oxide in metal-stressed roots: toxicity or defence

The presented review is a summary on the current knowledge about metal induced stress response in plants, focusing on the roles of reactive oxygen species, auxin and nitric oxide in roots. The article focuses mainly on the difference between defence and toxicity symptoms of roots during metal-induced stress. Nowadays, pollution of soils by heavy metals is a rapidly growing issue, which affects agriculture and human health. In order to deal with these problems, we must first understand the basic mechanisms and responses to environmental conditions in plants growing under such conditions. Studies so far show somewhat conflicting data, interpreting the same stress responses as both symptoms of defence and toxicity. Therefore, the aim of this review is to give a report about current knowledge of heavy metal-induced stress research, and also to differentiate between toxicity and defence, and outline the challenges of research, focusing on reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, auxin, and the interplay among them. There are still remaining questions on how reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, as well as auxin, can activate either symptoms of toxicity or defence, and adaptation responses.

Impact of antimycin A and myxothiazol on cadmium-induced superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide generation in barley root tip

In order to gain more insight into the involvement of mitochondrial complex III in the Cd-induced stress, we studied the effect of complex III inhibitors, antimycin A (AA), and myxothiazol (MYXO), on the Cd-induced ROS and NO generation in the barley root tip. Short-term exposure of barley roots to either MYXO or AA provoked a dose-dependent increase in both H₂O₂ and NO formation. In contrast to H₂O₂ generation, an enhanced superoxide formation in the transition zone of the root was a characteristic feature of AA-treated roots. MYXO and AA co-treatment had an additive effect on the amount of both H₂O₂ and NO formed in roots. On the other hand, AA-induced superoxide formation was markedly reversed in roots co-treated with MYXO. Both AA and MYXO exacerbated the Cd-mediated H₂O₂ or NO generation in the root tip. On the contrary, while AA also exacerbated the Cd-induced superoxide generation, MYXO dose-dependently attenuated it. These data provide strong evidence that ROS generation, a very early symptom of Cd toxicity in roots, is originated in mitochondria. Cd, similarly to AA, generates superoxide by blocking the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) at complex III. In turn, the site of Cd-induced NO generation is not associated with complex III, but ROS formed in mitochondria at this third complex of ETC are probably responsible for enhanced NO generation in barley root under Cd stress.

Allantoin contributes to the stress response in cadmium-treated Arabidopsis roots

Ureides are nitrogen-rich compounds, derived from purine catabolism. A dual role for ureides, and for allantoin in particular, in both nitrogen recycling and the abiotic stress response has been recently identified. Previous work on the effect of allantoin on cadmium (Cd)-exposed Arabidopsis revealed that high concentration of allantoin in allantoinase-negative mutant (aln-3) leaves alleviates Cd toxicity via inducing antioxidant mechanisms in these plants. In the present study, we evaluate whether allantoin has a similar protective role in roots. Both wild type and aln-3 roots contain higher amounts of internal Cd compared to leaves. Likewise, aln-3 roots are more resistant to Cd, reflected in fresh and dry weight, and stimulated antioxidant enzyme activity, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), resulting in lower reactive oxygen species concentration. In contrast with wild-type leaves, high levels of Cd in Col-0 roots reduces transcript abundance of uricase, leading to a significant decline in allantoin level of treated roots at 1000 and 1500 μM CdCl₂. This metabolite change is also accompanied by decreasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT). Additionally, contrary to wild-type leaves, root genotype has a significant effect on CAT activity under Cd treatment, suggesting the possible different sources of damage and oxidative stress response in these two tissues.

Cadmium activates both diphenyleneiodonium- and rotenone-sensitive superoxide production in barley root tips

Mild Cd stress-activated diphenyleneiodonium-sensitive superoxide production is utilized in root morphogenic responses, while severe Cd stress-induced robust rotenone-sensitive superoxide generation may lead to cell and root death. In barley, even a few minute exposure of roots to Cd concentration higher than 10 µM evoked a strong superoxide generation in the root transition zone. This superoxide generation was strongly inhibited by the inhibition of mitochondrial electron flow into complex III in the presence of the mitochondrial complex I inhibitor rotenone. Similarly, the superoxide generation induced by antimycin A, an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex III, was considerably reduced by rotenone, suggesting the involvement of complex III also in the severe Cd stress-induced superoxide generation. This severe Cd stress-induced superoxide generation was followed by an extensive cell death in this part of the root tip, which similar to the superoxide generation, was eliminated by rotenone co-treatment. In turn, mild Cd stress-induced diphenyleneiodonium (DPI)-sensitive superoxide generation was observed only in the post-stressed roots, suggesting that it is not directly associated with Cd toxicity. Diphenyleneiodonium, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, markedly inhibited the mild Cd stress-induced radial expansion of root apex, indicating that enhanced DPI-sensitive superoxide production is required for rapid isotropic cell growth. Severe Cd stress, probably through the inhibition of complex III, caused a rapid and robust superoxide generation leading to cell and/or root death. By contrast, mild Cd stress did not evoke oxidative stress, and the enhanced DPI-sensitive superoxide generation is utilized in adaptive morphogenic responses.

Role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and some peptidases during seed germination and copper stress in bean cotyledons

The role of the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome pathway and some endo- and aminopeptidases (EPs and APs, respectively) was studied in cotyledons of germinating bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The Ub system appeared to be important both in the early (3 days) and late (9 days) phases of germination. In the presence of copper, an increase in protein carbonylation and a decrease in reduced -SH pool occurred, indicating protein damage. This was associated with an enhancement in accumulation of malondialdehyde, a major product of lipid peroxidation, and an increase in content of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), showing oxidative stress generation. Moreover, copper induced inactivation of the Ub-proteasome (EC 3.4.25) pathway and inhibition of leucine and proline aminopeptidase activities (EC 3.4.11.1 and EC 3.4.11.5, respectively), thus limiting their role in modulating essential metabolic processes, such as the removal of regulatory and oxidatively-damaged proteins. By contrast, total trypsin and chymotrypsin-like activities (EC 3.4.21.4 and EC 3.4.21.1, respectively) increased after copper exposure, in parallel with a decrease in their inhibitor capacities (i.e. trypsin inhibitor and chymotrypsin inhibitor activity), suggesting that these endoproteases are part of the protective mechanisms against copper stress.

Proteolytic activities in Phaseolus vulgaris cotyledons under copper stress

The changes in the protease activities of bean cotyledons were investigated in response to copper stress. Assays using synthetic substrates and specific protease inhibitors followed by activity measurements and electrophoresis analysis allowed to study the classes of enzymes involved in the storage protein mobilization during the germination of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) seeds, and then identify which ones were affected in the presence of 200 μM CuCl2 in the imbibition medium. Copper treatment affected embryo growth and total protease activity. The results of SDS-gelatin-PAGE show that Cu excess led to a decrease in protease activity of 45 to 66 kDa. Moreover, cysteine-, aspartic- and metallo-protease activities were markedly lowered under copper stress, while serine-protease one was enhanced as well as its activity dependent abundance in comparison with control. However, the relative distribution of major cysteine protease in H2O-germinated seeds was significantly diminished after Cu exposure. Thus, copper excess can disturb the nitrogen freeing from reserve tissues at enzymatic level; differential responses of protease classes are discussed, notably, cysteine protease in the way of storage protein mobilization and serine protease in protective mechanism one.

Copper excess impairs mobilization of storage proteins in bean cotyledons

Germination represents a limiting stage of plant life cycle. One of the underlying metabolic activities following imbibition of seed is the reserve mobilization. Seeds of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. soisson nain hatif) were germinated by soaking in distilled water or 200 μM CuCl(2). Storage proteins breakdown and amino acids freeing from reserve tissues were investigated. Compared to the control, Cu caused a reduction in germination rate, embryo growth, and in mobilization of cotyledonary biomass. The failure in albumin and globulin hydrolysis after the exposure to the pollutant was argued by (1) higher contents of remaining proteins than control ones, (2) persistence of some polypeptide bands resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of albumin and globulin-rich fractions, and (3) decrease in the availability of amino acids. Nitrogen starvation in embryonic axis should be associated with the Cu-imposed delay in growth.

Metal-induced oxidative stress and plant mitochondria

A general status of oxidative stress in plants caused by exposure to elevated metal concentrations in the environment coincides with a constraint on mitochondrial electron transport, which enhances ROS accumulation at the mitochondrial level. As mitochondria are suggested to be involved in redox signaling under environmental stress conditions, mitochondrial ROS can initiate a signaling cascade mediating the overall stress response, i.e., damage versus adaptation. This review highlights our current understanding of metal-induced responses in plants, with focus on the production and detoxification of mitochondrial ROS. In addition, the potential involvement of retrograde signaling in these processes will be discussed.

Oxidative damage and redox change in pea seeds treated with cadmium

Pea seeds (Pisum sativum L.) were germinated by soaking in distilled water or 5mM CdCl2 for 5 days. The relationships among Cd treatment, germination rate, embryonic axis growth, NAD(P)H levels and NAD(P)H oxidase activities in mitochondrial and peroxisomal fractions of cotyledons and embryonic axis were investigated. Heavy metal stress provoked a diminution in germination percent and embryonic axis growth, as compared to the control. A drastic disorder in reducing power was imposed after exposure to cadmium. Heavy metal caused a significant increase in the redox ratio of coenzymes. NADPH oxidase is considered to be oxidative stress-related enzymes. The NAD(P)H oxidase activities were strongly stimulated after Cd exposure. The changes in redox and oxidative properties are discussed in relation to the delay in seed germination and embryonic axis growth.