Effects of Zinc on Root Morphology and Antioxidant Adaptations of Cadmium-Treated Sedum alfredii H.

ABSTRACT

The study demonstrated S. alfredii is an excellent cadmium (Cd)/zinc (Zn) hyperaccumulator as Cd and Zn concentrations in leaves reached 2,183 and 13,799 mg kg^?1 DW, respectively. There was a significant increase in root morphological parameters induced by 50 and 500 μM Zn supplement; however, a sharp decrease in these parameters occurred when treated with 100 μM Cd +1000 μM Zn. The inhibited root dehydrogenase activity in 100 μM Cd treated plants was restored to control levels when supplemented with 500 μM Zn. Moderate Zn supplement did not produce significant changes in (malondialdehyde) MDA concentrations as compared with those treated with Cd alone. Variations of the antioxidative enzymes proved an ineffective role in coping with metal-stress in S. alfredii. Combined Cd and Zn treatment significantly enhanced ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) contents in leaves of S. alfredii, as compared with those treated with Cd alone. Thus, Zn may rely on the involvement of GSH in detoxification and tolerance.     

光活化毒素α-T对棉铃虫和亚洲玉米螟谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶的影响

谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)是机体对抗内源或外源性诱导产生的脂质过氧化反应的一种保护酶系。研究表明,紫外光照(300~400 nm) 对亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis GSH-PX没有显著影响,但可诱导棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera GSH-PX活性升高。经光活化毒素α-T处理后,亚洲玉米螟和棉铃虫GSH-PX活性均有不同程度的升高,这可能是昆虫对α-T引起的氧化协迫作出的一种防御性反应。     

Cu(Ⅱ)胁迫下黑曲霉TL-F2谷胱甘肽系统的响应

以矿区筛选抗性黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger TL-F2)为材料,研究不同浓度(50、100、150、200、250、300 mg·L^-1)Cu(Ⅱ)对不同生长阶段黑曲霉谷胱甘肽系统(GSH/GPx)的影响。结果显示:随着Cu(Ⅱ)浓度增大,A.niger TL-F2生长量、可溶性蛋白含量呈降低趋势,丙二醛(MDA)含量则增加;谷胱甘肽系统中还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量呈现上升趋势,而氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPx)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活力则呈现先增后降趋势;在金属浓度为150 mg·L^-1时GSSG含量达到最大为365.68 μmol·L^-1,GPx和GR活力分别在金属浓度为100 mg·L^-1时达到峰值,GSH/GSSG比值也随Cu(Ⅱ)浓度和处理时间的增加呈下降趋势。结果表明:在Cu(Ⅱ)作用下A.niger TL-F2菌体内GSH/GPx系统产生氧化应激反应,通过调节GSH、GSSG、GPx和GR的增减来抵御过量活性氧(ROS)胁迫;GSH/GSSG比值也可直观地反映Cu(Ⅱ)对A.niger TL-F2毒性大小。     

Response of Glutathione and Glutathione S-transferase in Rice Seedlings Exposed to Cadmium Stress

A hydroponic culture experiment was done to investigate the effect of Cd stress on glutathione content(GSH)and glutathione S-transferase(GST,EC 2.5.1.18)activity in rice seedlings.The rice growth was severely inhibited when Cd level in the solution was higher than 10 mg/L.In rice shoots,GSH content and GST activity increased with the increasing Cd level,while in roots,GST was obviously inhibited by Cd treatments.Compared with shoots,the rice roots had higher GSH content and GST activity,indicating the ability of Cd detoxification was much higher in roots than in shoots.There was a significant correlation between Cd level and GSH content or GST activity,suggesting that both parameters may be used as biomarkers of Cd stress in rice.     

Effects of the herbicide LASSO MTX (alachlor 42% W/V) on biometric parameters and liver biomarkers in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of subchronic exposure to the herbicide LASSO MTX (alachlor 42% W/V) on biometric parameters and important liver biomarkers in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). One year old fish were exposed for 28 days to LASSO MTX added to the tank water at concentrations of 240 and 2400 μg L⁻¹. The exposure did not affect fish biometric parameters. Glutathione-S-tranferase (GST) activity in liver (hepatopancreas) remained unchanged in exposed fish when compared to controls. However, significant induction of total cytochrome P 450 (CYP 450), ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and elevated glutathione (GSH) in liver of exposed fish were detected.     

The Metabolic Responses of Aspergillus flavus to N-Acetylcysteine, Ascorbate, and H2O2

Aflatoxin, the secondary metabolite of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, is the most toxic product in nature. In this study, N-acetylcysteine （NAC）, ascorbate, and H2O2 were used to ascertain their effects on fungal metabolic response of A. flavus. The results demonstrated that NAC did not affect fungal growth, but inhibited the aflatoxin Bt production, with the concomitant sporulation reduction. NAC increased the ratio of reduced glutathione （GSH） and oxidized glutathione （GSSG）, but decreased the activity of glutathione reductase （GR）. Ascorbate had similar effect on fungal growth, sporulation, and GR activity, but GSH/GSSG and total glutathione （tGSH, including GSH and GSSG） were significantly increased. H2O2 at high concentration （5 mM） inhibited fungal growth, but the aflatoxin production was increased. At the same time, it reduced GR activity and enhanced tGSH. Though reductive agents had different effects on GSH metabolism, reductive conditions inhibited aflatoxin production and sporulation without any effect on fungal growth. The results in this report confirmed that the relationship between oxidative stress and aflatoxin production is theoretically important in controlling aflatoxin contamination.     

Purification and Characterisation of Ascorbate Oxidase from Flour and Immature Wheat Kernels

White flour from wheat was shown to contain basic-ascorbate oxidase (AOX) enzymes (pI 7·6–9·6) and acidic-AOX enzymes (pI 5·1–6·6) in a ratio of 0·4:1, based on chromatography data. Immature wheat kernels (two weeks post-anthesis) contained about 12 times more AOX activity (units/g dry weight) than flour from mature grain, and the ratio of basic- to acidic-AOX was 5:1. Acidic-AOX was purified 90-fold from flour by hydrophobic interaction, gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography. Basic-AOX was purified 20 000-fold from immature wheat by hydrophobic interaction, anion exchange, cation exchange and gel filtration chromatography in a yield of 5%. The acid-AOX had a M of 140 k, was optimally active at pH 6·3 and 40 °C, and was stable in the pH range 5–9 and at 30 °C for 0·5 h at pH 6·2. The Km values were 0·26 m for L-ascorbic acid and 0·93 m for D-iso ascorbic acid. The basic-AOX had a M of 139 k and subunit M of 72 k. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 6·2 and 50 °C, and was stable in the pH range 5–9 and at 40 °C for 0·5 h at pH 6·2. The Km values were 0·30 m for L-ascorbic acid and 0·53 m for D-iso ascorbic acid. The absorption spectrum of basic-AOX had absorption maxima at 280 nm and 607 nm of similar magnitude to those measured in AOX fromCucurbita species (squash). This indicates that wheat AOX contains protein-bound copper similar to other plant AOX.     

抗性和敏感小菜蛾谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶和谷胱甘肽的比较

研究了抗性和敏感小菜蛾谷胱甘肽 - S-转移酶 ( GSTs)在不同发育期的变化及有机磷类杀虫剂对虫体谷胱甘肽 ( GSH)质量摩尔浓度的影响 .结果表明 :抗性和敏感小菜蛾 GSTs比活力在各发育期中变化不大 ,但虫体 GSTs总活力随虫体生长发育而显著增加 ,在 4龄和蛹期达到最大值 .抗性小菜蛾 GSTs活力明显高于敏感小菜蛾 .甲胺磷和水胺硫磷对敏感小菜蛾幼虫 GSH影响不明显 ,但可导致抗性小菜蛾 GSH质量摩尔浓度的显著降低 .因此可以认为 ,GSTs活力增高和 GSH的结合作用应是小菜蛾对有机磷类杀虫剂抗性的重要机制 .     

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants in Wheat Genotypes: Possible Mechanism of Water Stress Tolerance

The role of plant antioxidant systems in water stress tolerance was studied in three contrasting wheat genotypes. Water stress imposed at different stages after anthesis resulted in an increase in lipid peroxidation and a decrease in membrane stability and chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. The antioxidant enzymes ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and non-specific peroxidase also increased significantly under water stress. Genotype PBW 175, which had highest ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and peroxidase activity, had the lowest lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde content) and highest membrane stability and contents of chlorophyll and carotenoids under water stress, while the susceptible genotype WH 542 exhibited the lowest antioxidant enzyme activity, membrane stability and contents of chlorophyll and carotenoids and the highest lipid peroxidation. Genotype HD 2402 showed intermediate behaviour. It seems that drought tolerance of PBW 175, as represented by higher membrane stability and chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and lower lipid peroxidation, is related to its higher antioxidant enzyme activity.     

Responses of antioxidant enzymes in the needles of hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) seedlings to nutrient solutions containing various calcium/aluminum ratios

An attempt was made to examine the possible connection between the various ratios of calcium/aluminum (Ca/Al) in the nutrient solution of plant cultures and the active oxygen scavenging system of hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) seedlings. The hinoki cypress seedlings were transferred to nutrient solutions containing 5 mM AlCl₃ together with various concentrations of Ca(NO₃)₂ in pots containing glass beads and Teflon tips. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) in the needles were estimated at several stages during the 7-day treatment. The samples treated with the lower Ca/Al solutions show the highest SOD activities. The activities of APX and GR, both of them involved in the ascorbate-glutathione cycle, showed the same tendency with decrease to higher Ca/Al ratio. These results indicate that rhizospheric Ca might compete with Al and ameliorate Al toxicity on and in the roots, the Al stress is not transformed to the needles after a few days, and the ascorbate-glutathione cycle in the hinoki cypress needles might fluctuate and be suppressed by the rhizospheric Al stress during the 7 days. This work was supported in part by funding from the Japan Science & Technology Corporation, the CREST program 1996–2001, and the Center for Forest Decline Studies.