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Cyanide action in plants — from toxic to regulatory

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Abstract

Recent biochemical and genetic studies on hydrogen cyanide (HCN) metabolism and function in plants were reviewed. The potential sources of endogenous cyanide and the pathways of its detoxification are outlined and the possible signaling routes by which cyanide exerts its physiological effects are discussed. Cyanide is produced in plant tissues as the result of hydrolysis of cyanogenic compounds and is also released as a co-product of ethylene biosynthesis. Most cyanide produced in plants is detoxified primarily by the key enzyme β-cyanoalanine synthase. The remaining HCN at non-toxic concentration may play a role of signaling molecule involved in the control of some metabolic processes in plants. So, HCN may play a dual role in plants, depending on its concentration. It may be used in defense against herbivores at high toxic concentration and may have a regulatory function at lower concentration. Special attention is given to the action of HCN during biotic and abiotic stresses, nitrate assimilation and seed germination. Intracellular signaling responses to HCN involve enhancement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the expression of cyanide-insensitive alternative oxidase (AOX) and ACC synthase (ACS) genes. The biochemical and cellular mechanisms of these responses are, however, not completely understood.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

abscisic acid

ACC:

1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid

ACO:

ACC oxidase

ACS:

ACC synthase

ACS6 :

ACC synthase gene

AFGC:

Arabidopsis Functional Genomic Facility

AOX:

alternative oxidase

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

AtRDH:

Arabidopsis thaliana rhodanese homologue protein

β-CAS:

β-cyanoalanine synthase

CTR1:

Raf-like ser/thr kinase

CS:

cysteine synthase (O-acetylserine sulfhydratase)

2,4-D:

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

GA:

gibberellins

ga-1 :

GA deficient mutant

GR:

glutathione reductase

HR:

hypersensitive response

IAA:

indole acetic acid

MAPK:

mitogen activated protein kinase

NF- K B:

redox-sensitive nuclear factor

NR:

nitrate reductase

PCD:

programmed cell death

PPP:

pentose phosphate pathway

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

RuBP:

ribulose 1,5-bisophsphate

TMV:

tobacco mosaic virus

TVCV:

turnip vein clearing virus

SAM:

S-adenosylmethionine

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  1. Institute of Biology, The University of Białystok, Świerkowa 20B, 15-950, Białystok, Poland

    Irena Siegień

  2. Department of Plant Physiology, Warsaw Agricultural University, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776, Warszawa, Poland

    Renata Bogatek

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Siegień, I., Bogatek, R. Cyanide action in plants — from toxic to regulatory. Acta Physiol Plant 28, 483–497 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02706632

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