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Cell Wall Accumulation of Cu Ions and Modulation of Lignifying Enzymes in Primary Leaves of Bean Seedlings Exposed to Excess Copper

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Abstract

Copper is both a nutrient and an environmental toxin that is taken up by plants. In order to determine the subcellular localization of copper and to assess the resulting metabolic changes, we exposed 14-day-old bean seedlings to nutrient solutions containing varying concentrations of Cu2+ ions for 3 days. Biochemical analyses revealed that the cell wall was the major site of Cu2+ accumulation in the leaves of treated plants. Excess copper modified the activity of lignifying peroxidases in both soluble and ionic cell wall-bound fraction. The activity of ionic GPX (guaiacol peroxidase, EC 1.11.1.7) was increased by 50 and 75 µM CuSO4. The activities of both ionic CAPX (coniferyl alcohol peroxidase, EC 1.11.1.4) and NADH oxidase were increased by both copper concentrations tested. While soluble CAPX activity decreased in leaves treated by all copper concentrations tested, the activity of soluble NADH oxidase remained unchanged at 50 µM and was enhanced at 75 µM. Treatment with CuSO4 also increased the abundance of total phenol compounds and induced stimulation in the activity of PAL (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, EC. 4.3.1.5). Using histochemistry in combination with fluorescence microscopy we show that bean leaves from copper-exposed plants displayed biochemical and structural modifications reinforcing the cell walls of their xylem tissues. On the other hand, the perivascular fiber sclerenchyma appeared to be less developed in treated leaves.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Laboratoire de Bio–Physiologie Cellulaires, 7021, Zarzouna, Tunisie

    Houda Bouazizi, Hager Jouili & Ezzeddine El Ferjani

  2. Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, 4101 Rue Sherbrooke est, Montréal, QC, H1X 2B2, Canada

    Anja Geitmann

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  1. Houda Bouazizi
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  2. Hager Jouili
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  3. Anja Geitmann
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  4. Ezzeddine El Ferjani
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Correspondence to Ezzeddine El Ferjani.

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Bouazizi, H., Jouili, H., Geitmann, A. et al. Cell Wall Accumulation of Cu Ions and Modulation of Lignifying Enzymes in Primary Leaves of Bean Seedlings Exposed to Excess Copper. Biol Trace Elem Res 139, 97–107 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8642-0

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