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Copper-induced changes in the growth, oxidative metabolism, and saponin production in suspension culture roots of Panax ginseng in bioreactors

  • Biotic and Abiotic Stress
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Abstract

Roots of Panax ginseng exposed to various concentrations of Cu (0.0, 5, 10.0, 25.0, and 50.0 μM) accumulated high amounts of Cu in a concentration-dependent and duration-dependent manner. Roots treated with 50 μM Cu resulted in 52% and 89% growth inhibition after 20 and 40 days, respectively. Saponin synthesis was stimulated at a Cu concentration between 5 and 25 μM but decreased at 50 μM Cu. Malondialdehyde content (MDA), lipoxygenase activity (LOX), superoxide ion (O2 •−) accumulation, and H2O2 content at 5 and 10 μM Cu-treated roots were not increased but strongly increased at 50 μM Cu resulting in the oxidation of ascorbate (ASC) and glutathione (GSH) to dehydroascorbate (DHA) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG), respectively indicating a clear oxidative stress. Seven well-resolved bands of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected in the gel and an increase in SOD activity seemed to be mainly due to the induction of Fe-SOD 3. Five to 10 μM Cu slightly induced activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD) but inhibited monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and glutathione reductase (GR) enzyme activities. No changes in catalase (CAT) activity and in activity gel were found up to 25 μM Cu, but both G-POD and CAT activities were inhibited at 50 μM Cu. Glutathione metabolism enzymes such as γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase activities (GPx) were activated at 5 and 10 μM Cu but were strongly inhibited at 50 μM Cu due to the Cu accumulation in root tissues. The strong depletion of GSH at 50 μM Cu was associated to the strong induction of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GGT) activity. These results indicate that plant could grow under Cu stress (5–25 μM) by modulating the antioxidant defense mechanism for combating Cu induced oxidative stress.

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Abbreviations

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11)

CAT:

Catalase (EC 1.11.1.6)

CBN:

Chungbuk National University Line 1

DHAR:

Dehydroascorbate reductase (EC 1.8.5.1)

DHA:

Dehydroascorbate

GST:

Glutathione-S-transferase (EC 2.5.1.18)

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.12)

GR:

Glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2)

G-POD:

Guaiacol peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7)

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

MDHAR:

Monodehydroascorbate reductase (EC 1.6.5.4)

NBT:

Nitroblue tetrazolium

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

ASC:

Reduced ascorbate

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1)

XTT:

Sodium,3,-[1-[phenylamino-carbonyl]-3,4-tetrazolium]-bis(4-methoxy-6-nitro)benzene-sulfonic acid hydrate

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MOE), the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) and the Ministry of Labour (MOLAB), Republic of Korea through the fostering project of the laboratory of Excellency. One of the authors (MBA) also wishes to acknowledge the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) for providing financial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Food Research Institute, Cell Function Laboratory, Tsukuba, Ibaraki-305-8642, Japan

    Mohammad Babar Ali

  2. Research Center for the Development of Advanced Horticultural Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheong-ju, 361-763, Republic of Korea

    Eun-Joo Hahn & Kee-Yoeup Paek

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  1. Mohammad Babar Ali
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  2. Eun-Joo Hahn
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  3. Kee-Yoeup Paek
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Correspondence to Mohammad Babar Ali.

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Communicated by H. Van Onckelen

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Ali, M.B., Hahn, EJ. & Paek, KY. Copper-induced changes in the growth, oxidative metabolism, and saponin production in suspension culture roots of Panax ginseng in bioreactors. Plant Cell Rep 25, 1122–1132 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-006-0174-x

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