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Relationship Between Proline and Hg2+-Induced Oxidative Stress in a Tolerant Rice Mutant

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Abstract

There has been little agreement regarding the mechanism by which proline reduces heavy metal stress. The present work examines the relationship between Hg2+-induced oxidative stress and proline accumulation in rice and explores the possible mechanisms through which proline protects against Hg2+ stress. The effect of proline on alleviation of Hg2+ toxicity was studied by spectrophotography and enzymatic methods. Hg2+ induced oxidative stress in rice by increasing lipid peroxidation. Pretreatment of the rice with 2 mM proline for 12 h profoundly alleviated Hg2+-induced lipid peroxidation and minimized H2O2 accumulation. Proline pretreatment significantly reduced (p < 0.01) the Hg2+ content in rice leaves. A comparison of the effects of proline pretreatment on H2O2 accumulation by Hg2+ and aminotrazole suggested that proline protected cells from Hg2+-induced oxidative stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species. The present work demonstrates a protective effect of proline on Hg2+ toxicity through detoxifying reactive oxygen species, rather than chelating metal ions or maintaining the water balance under Hg2+ stress.

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Abbreviations

AT:

Aminotriazole

GSH:

Glutathione

GSSG:

Oxidative glutathione

MDA:

Malonaldehyde

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

TBA:

2-Thiobarbituric acid

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 11th Five-Year Plan Period (NO. 2006BAK02A18), the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (NO. Z306300), and the National Key Basic Research and Development Program (NO. 2002CB410804).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology & Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Feijuan Wang, Bin Zeng & Cheng Zhu

  2. State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, 310006, China

    Zongxiu Sun

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  1. Feijuan Wang
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  2. Bin Zeng
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  4. Cheng Zhu
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Correspondence to Cheng Zhu.

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Wang, F., Zeng, B., Sun, Z. et al. Relationship Between Proline and Hg2+-Induced Oxidative Stress in a Tolerant Rice Mutant. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 56, 723–731 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-008-9226-2

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