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Signal regulation of proline metabolism in callus of the halophyte Nitraria tangutorum Bobr. grown under salinity stress

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Abstract

Callus of the halophyte Nitraria tangutorum Bobr. was used to investigate proline metabolism and its signal regulation under salinity stress. Enhanced levels of proline and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were observed in calli exposed to salinity stress, and elevated levels of calcium (Ca) were detected in early responses to 75 mM NaCl treatment. Additionally, NaCl treatment induced significant elevation of ornithine-δ-aminotransferase (OAT) activity, but notable decreases occurred in the activities of glutamyl kinase (GK) and proline dehydrogenase (PDH). H2O2 scavenger dimethylthiourea and pyruvate inhibited the accumulation of proline and the stimulation of OAT in salinity-stressed calli. Moreover, the utilization of Ca chelator EGTA and Ca channel blocker verapamil abolished the enhancement of proline level induced by 75 mM NaCl treatment for 3 days. These results suggest that the accumulation of proline is correlated to the increase of OAT activity and the decrease of PDH activity in response to salinity, and that elevated Ca signal during the early stage of NaCl treatment and the excitation of OAT activity resulting from the increase of H2O2 generation are essential for proline accumulation in salinity-stressed calli.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

Ca:

Calcium

DMTU:

Dimethylthiourea

GK:

Glutamyl kinase

EDTA:

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

EGTA:

Ethylene glycol bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetra-acetic acid

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

MS:

Murashige and Skoog

OAT:

Ornithine δ-aminotransferase

PDH:

Proline dehydrogenase

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31160088 and 30960064) and Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, Gansu, People’s Republic of China

    Yingli Yang, Fan Yang, Xiaoning Li, Ruxia Shi & Jin Lu

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  1. Yingli Yang
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  3. Xiaoning Li
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Correspondence to Yingli Yang.

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Yang, Y., Yang, F., Li, X. et al. Signal regulation of proline metabolism in callus of the halophyte Nitraria tangutorum Bobr. grown under salinity stress. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 112, 33–42 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-012-0209-7

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