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Evaluation of effects of arsenic on carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolism in two contrasting varieties of Brassica juncea

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Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of arsenic (As) exposure on carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur (CNS) metabolism in Brassica juncea. Two contrasting, tolerant (TPM-1) and sensitive (TM-4), varieties of B. Juncea were selected and grown either in control sand (150 g) or in sand containing 10 mg of arsenate. Harvesting was performed at 7 and 15 days and various metabolites and enzymes of CNS as well as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism were analyzed. At 7 days, TM-4 showed significantly higher As accumulation and stressed phenotype with increase in superoxide radicals, malondialdehyde, and cell death, as compared with TPM-1. However, the level of hydrogen peroxide was higher in TPM-1 than in TM-4. The level of GABA and the activity of glutamate decarboxylase increased in both roots and shoots of TPM-1, but not in TM-4. The level of nitrate and sulfate increased and decreased in shoots of TPM-1 and TM-4, respectively. The supply of fumarate and succinate was maintained in both shoots and roots of TPM-1 while it was only in shoots of TM-4. There was significant alteration in the profile of amino acids and in sulfur and nitrogen metabolism. However, at 15 days, As accumulation of both varieties was found to be similar along with an increase in GABA, nitrate, and sulfate in both shoots and roots except sulfate in TM-4. Supply of fumarate and succinate was also maintained and other responses were found to be similar in TPM-1 and TM-4. The study demonstrates that responses of CNS metabolism differ in varietal and time-dependent manner.

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Abbreviations

Ala:

Alanine

APR:

5′-adenylylpersulfate reductase

APS:

ATP sulfurylase

As:

Arsenic

AsV:

Arsenate

Asn:

Asparagine

Asp:

Aspartate

GABA:

γ-aminobutyric acid

GAD:

Glutamate decarboxylase,

GABA-T:

GABA transaminase

GHB:

γ-hydroxybutyrate

Gln:

Glutamine

Glu:

Glutamate

Gly:

Glycine

GS:

Glutamine synthetase

GSH:

Glutathione

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

Ile:

Isoleucine

Leu:

Leucine

Lys:

Lysine

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

Met:

Methionine

NR:

Nitrate reductase

O •−2 :

Superoxide radicals

PC(s):

Phytochelatin(s)

Phe:

Phenylalanine

SAT:

Serine acetyltransferase

Ser:

Serine

SSA:

Succinic semialdehyde

SSADH:

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase

Val:

Valine

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Stress Physiology & Biotechnology Section, Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India

    Varsha Pathare, Sudhakar Srivastava & Penna Suprasanna

Authors
  1. Varsha Pathare
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  2. Sudhakar Srivastava
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  3. Penna Suprasanna
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Correspondence to Sudhakar Srivastava.

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Communicated by G. Klobus.

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Pathare, V., Srivastava, S. & Suprasanna, P. Evaluation of effects of arsenic on carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolism in two contrasting varieties of Brassica juncea . Acta Physiol Plant 35, 3377–3389 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-013-1370-2

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