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Role of reactive oxygen species-generating enzymes and hydrogen peroxide during cadmium, mercury and osmotic stresses in barley root tip

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Abstract

The effect of cadmium (Cd) on the expression and activity of NADPH oxidase, peroxidase and oxalate oxidase as well as on the expression of aquaporins and dehydrins was studied in barley root tip. The root tip represented intact apical part of the barley root containing the root cap, meristems and elongation zone. Except stress induced by Cd, barley root tips were analysed after their exposure to phytotoxic concentration of mercury (Hg)-, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)- or polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced water stress in order to compare the Cd-induced changes with changes induced by these other stress factors. Cd, Hg, H2O2 and with some exceptions also PEG treatments caused similar alterations in the gene expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating and water deficiency-related genes, and in the activity of ROS-generating enzymes. These evidences support our opinion that ROS accumulation and water imbalance are the common symptoms of these stress factors and that the elevated production of H2O2 plays, probably as a signal molecule, a key role in the induction of plant responses to abiotic stresses in barley root tip. On the other hand, H2O2 at permanent high concentration is probably the main toxic factor during stress conditions.

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Abbreviations

AQP:

Aquaporin

DHN:

Dehydrin

HM:

Heavy metal

NOX:

NADPH oxidase

OLP:

OxO-like protein

OxO:

Oxalate oxidase

PEG:

Polyethylene glycol

PIP:

Plasma membrane intrinsic protein

PRX:

Peroxidase

RGI:

Root growth inhibition

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

RT:

Root tip

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Margita Vašková for excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by the Grant agency VEGA, project no. 2/7073/27.

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  1. Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 14, 84523, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    Ladislav Tamás, Igor Mistrík, Jana Huttová, L’ubica Halušková, Katarína Valentovičová & Veronika Zelinová

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  1. Ladislav Tamás
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  2. Igor Mistrík
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Correspondence to Ladislav Tamás.

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Tamás, L., Mistrík, I., Huttová, J. et al. Role of reactive oxygen species-generating enzymes and hydrogen peroxide during cadmium, mercury and osmotic stresses in barley root tip. Planta 231, 221–231 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-009-1042-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-009-1042-z

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