Aluminium reduces sugar uptake in tobacco cell cultures: a potential cause of inhibited elongation but not of toxicity

External aluminium supply regulates photosynthesis and carbon partitioning in the Al-accumulating tropical shrub Melastoma malabathricum

Aluminium (Al) is toxic to most plants, but recent research has suggested that Al addition may stimulate growth and nutrient uptake in some species capable of accumulating high tissue Al concentrations. The physiological basis of this growth response is unknown, but it may be associated with processes linked to the regulation of carbon assimilation and partitioning by Al supply. To test alternative hypotheses for the physiological mechanism explaining this response, we examined the effects of increasing Al concentrations in the growth medium on tissue nutrient concentrations and carbon assimilation in two populations of the Al-accumulator Melastoma malabathricum. Compared to seedlings grown in a control nutrient solution containing no Al, mean rates of photosynthesis and respiration increased by 46% and 27%, respectively, total non-structural carbohydrate concentrations increased by 45%, and lignin concentration in roots decreased by 26% when seedlings were grown in a nutrient solution containing 2.0 mM Al. The concentrations of P, Ca and Mg in leaves and stems increased by 31%, 22%, and 26%, respectively, in response to an increase in nutrient solution Al concentration from 0 to 2.0 mM. Elemental concentrations in roots increased for P (114%), Mg (61%) and K (5%) in response to this increase in Al concentration in the nutrient solution. Plants derived from an inherently faster-growing population had a greater relative increase in final dry mass, net photosynthetic and respiration rates and total non-structural carbohydrate concentrations in response to higher external Al supply. We conclude that growth stimulation by Al supply is associated with increases in photosynthetic and respiration rates and enhanced production of non-structural carbohydrates that are differentially allocated to roots, as well as stimulation of nutrient uptake. These responses suggest that internal carbon assimilation is up-regulated to provide the necessary resources of non-structural carbohydrates for uptake, transport and storage of Al in Melastoma malabathricum. This physiological mechanism has only been recorded previously in one other plant species, Camellia sinensis, which last shared a common ancestor with M. malabathricum more than 120 million years ago.

Formation of Proto-Kranz in C3 Rice Induced by Spike-Stalk Injection Method

Introduction of C4 photosynthetic traits into C3 crops is an important strategy for improving photosynthetic capacity and productivity. Here, we report the research results of a variant line of sorghum-rice (SR) plant with big panicle and high spikelet density by introducing sorghum genome DNA into rice by spike-stalk injection. The whole-genome resequencing showed that a few sorghum genes could be integrated into the rice genome. Gene expression was confirmed for two C4 photosynthetic enzymes containing pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Exogenous sorghum DNA integration induced a series of key traits associated with the C4 pathway called "proto-Kranz" anatomy, including leaf thickness, bundle sheath number and size, and chloroplast size in bundle sheath cells. Significantly, transgenic plants exhibited enhanced photosynthetic capacity resulting from both photosynthetic CO₂-concentrating effect and improved energy balance, which led to an increase in carbohydrate levels and productivity. Furthermore, such rice plant exhibited delayed leaf senescence. In summary, this study provides a proof for the feasibility of inducing the transition from C3 leaf anatomy to proto-Kranz by spike-stalk injection to achieve efficient photosynthesis and increase productivity.

Magnesium reduces cadmium accumulation by decreasing the nitrate reductase-mediated nitric oxide production in Panax notoginseng roots

Panax notoginseng is a traditional medicinal herb in China. However, the high capacity of its roots to accumulate cadmium (Cd) poses a potential risk to human health. Our previous study showed that nitrate reductase (NR)-dependent nitric oxide (NO) production promoted Cd accumulation in P. notoginseng root cell walls. In this study, the role of Mg in the regulation of NO production and Cd accumulation in P. notoginseng roots was characterized. Exposure of P. notoginseng roots to increasing concentrations of Cd resulted in a linear increase in NO production. The application of 2 mM Mg for 24 h significantly alleviated Cd-induced NO production and Cd accumulation in roots, which coincided with a significant decrease in the NR activity. Western analysis suggested that Mg increased the interaction between the 14-3-3 protein and NR, which might have been a reason for the Mg-mediated decrease in NR activity and NO production under Cd stress. These results suggested that Mg-mediated alleviation of Cd-induced NO production and Cd accumulation is achieved by enhancement of the interaction between the 14-3-3 protein and NR in P. notoginseng roots.

Possible use of a Nicotiana tabacum 'Bright Yellow 2' cell suspension as a model to assess phytotoxicity of pharmaceuticals (diclofenac)

Growth and developmental changes in plants induced by pharmaceuticals reflect changes in processes at the cellular and subcellular levels. Due to their growth and cellular characteristics, plant cell suspension cultures can be a suitable model for assessing toxicity. In this study, 10-1000 μg/L of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (DCF) decreased the viability of Nicotiana tabacum BY-2 cells after 24 h of treatment. Further, 0.1-10 mg/L DCF diminished the density of the cell suspension by 9-46% after 96 h of treatment, but at 1 and 10 μg/L, DCF increased the density by 13% and 5%, respectively, after 120 h. These changes were accompanied by increased production of total reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial superoxide (up to 17-fold and 5-fold, respectively), and a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential (by ∼64%) especially at 1000 μg/L DCF. The increased ROS production was accompanied by decrease in level of reactive nitrogen species (RNS; by 36%) and total thiols (by 61%). Damage to BY-2 cells was evidenced by accumulation of neutral red in acidic compartments (up to 10-fold at 1000 μg/L DCF), and increase of autophagic vacuole formation (up to 8-fold at 1000 μg/L DCF). Furthermore, irregular or stretched nuclei were observed in nearly 27% and 50% of cells at 100 and 1000 μg/L DCF, respectively. Highest levels of chromatin condensation (11% of cells) and apoptotic DNA fragmentation (7%) were found at 10 μg/L DCF. The results revealed a significant effect of DCF on BY-2 cells after 24 h of exposure. Changes in the growth and viability parameters were indisputably related to ROS and RNS production, changes in mitochondrial function, and possible activation of processes leading to cell death.

Phytotoxic and genotoxic effect of Aluminum to date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in vitro cultures

BACKGROUND

Al is a common metallic element found in earth's crust and is a toxic pollutant present at high concentrations in acidic soil, thus affecting plant growth. Despite being well studied as a toxic element, the effects of Al on date palm have not been investigated. This study aimed to assess the toxic effects of different Al concentrations on the development and growth of date palm callus and evaluate the biochemical and molecular response of date palm cells under Al stress.

RESULTS

Our study revealed the phytotoxicity of Al concentrations (50, 100, 150 and 200 mg.l-1) on date palm callus. The fresh and dry weight and the number of produced embryos were significantly decreased in response to Al concentration. At 150 mg.l-1, the embryo number decreased to 1.66 compared with the 19.33 in the control treatment. At high Al concentration (200 mg.l-1), the callus failed to produce any embryo. Biochemical analysis revealed that Al exposure had negative effect on callus. Total soluble carbohydrates, total soluble protein and free amino acids were decreased in plants receiving 200 mg.l-1 Al treatment compared with those in the untreated ones. A similar decline was observed in total soluble protein and free amino acid in response to Al treatment. Significant accumulations of malondialdehyde, H2O2 and peroxidase activity accompanied the increase in Al concentration in cultured tissues, revealing the generation of toxic reactive oxygen species in affected cultures. The genotoxic effect of Al at high concentrations (150 and 200 mg.l-1) was revealed by protein patterns.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed for the first time the phytotoxicity of Al to date palm callus. At 200 mg.l-1, Al prevented the embryo production of date palm callus. At 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg.l-1, Al negatively affected the biochemical characteristics of date palm callus. At 150 and 200 mg.l-1, Al induced changes in protein expression. These data showed that the tissue culture technique can be used as a valuable approach in heavy metal toxicity studies.

Aluminium-induced cell death requires upregulation of NtVPE1 gene coding vacuolar processing enzyme in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Cell death mechanism triggered by aluminium (Al) ion was investigated at root apex of tobacco (cultivar Bright Yellow) and in cultured tobacco cell line BY-2 derived from Bright Yellow, focusing on VPE genes (NtVPE1a, NtVPE1b, NtVPE2, NtVPE3). Cell death was detected as a loss of integrity of the plasma membrane by vital staining with fluorescein diacetate (in root apex) and Evans blue (in BY-2), respectively. At root apex, the upregulation of gene expression of VPE1a and VPE1b was observed significantly after 9h of Al exposure in parallel with an enhancement of cell death, while the upregulation of VPE2 and VPE3 were observed later. Similarly, in BY-2 cells, the upregulation of VPE1a and VPE1b and the enhancement of cell death were synchronously observed after 3-h exposure to Al, while the upregulation of VPE2 and VPE3 occurred later. RNA interference (RNAi) lines of each of the VPEs were constructed in BY-2 cells. Comparative studies between wild-type and the RNAi lines indicated that both Al-enhanced VPE activity and Al-induced cell death were significantly suppressed in the RNAi lines of VPE1 (dual suppressor of VPE1a and VPE1b), but not in the RNAi lines of VPE2 and that of VPE3. Taken together, we conclude that the upregulation of VPE1 gene expression and following enhancement of VPE activity under Al stress cause cell death in actively growing or elongating cells of tobacco.

A novel mechanism of aluminum-induced cell death involving vacuolar processing enzyme and vacuolar collapse in tobacco cell line BY-2

The role of vacuole in the cell death mechanism induced by aluminum (Al) was investigated in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cell line BY-2. Cells at logarithmic phase of growth were treated without (control) or with Al (up to 150 μM) in a treatment medium containing CaCl2, sucrose and 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid (MES) buffer (pH 5.0). After 18 h treatment, both the integrity of the plasma membrane (estimated by Evans blue uptake) and growth capacity (estimated by post-Al treatment growth in nutrient medium) were decreased, while the activity of vacuolar processing enzyme (VPE) was increased, in the Al dose-dependent manner. The activity of the vacuole (estimated by neutral red uptake) was slightly increased at 50 μM then decreased with an increase in Al concentration. Direct observation of morphological changes of vacuole in a transgenic BY-2 expressing GFP-AtVam3p fusion protein localized on tonoplast indicated Al-induced collapse of vacuole. Time-course experiments indicated that both an increase in VPE activity and a loss of growth capacity were clearly observed at 6 h of the treatment time, prior to the loss of plasma membrane integrity. The presence of Ac-YVAD-CHO (an inhibitor effective to VPE) during Al treatment suppressed a loss of plasma membrane integrity. The expression of VPE genes (VPE-1a, VPE-1b) were significantly enhanced by Al treatment. Taken together, we conclude that an enhancement of VPE activity by Al is controlled at transcriptional level, and is a key factor leading to a loss of integrity of the plasma membrane and a loss of growth capacity.

Changes of growth, photosynthesis and alteration of leaf antioxidative defence system of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] seedlings under aluminum stress

Tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] is an aluminum (Al) hyperaccumulator plant and is commercially important due to its high content of antioxidants. Although Al induced growth is well-known for the plants growing in acid soil, yet the cause underlying the stimulatory effect of Al has not been fully understood. To investigate the possible role of Al in growth induction, we studied morphological, physiological as well as biochemical changes of tea plant under different Al concentrations (0-4,000 μM). In hydroponics, Al (15 μM), enhanced shoot and root growth, but at higher concentrations, it caused oxidative damage which culminated in a cascade of biochemical changes, Al content increased concurrently with the maturity of the leaf as well as stem tissues than their younger counterparts. Hematoxylin staining indicated that Al accumulation started after 6 h of exposure in the tips of young roots and accumulation was dose dependent. The physiological parameters such as pigments, photosynthetic rate, transpiration and stomatal conductance were declined due to Al toxicity. Alteration in activated oxygen metabolism was also evidenced by increasing lipid peroxidation, membrane injury, evolution of superoxide anions and accumulation of H(2)O(2). Contents of phenols initially exhibited an acceleration which gradually plummeted at higher levels whereas total sugar and starch contents decimated beyond 15 μM of Al concentration. Activities of antioxidant defense enzymes were increased with the elevated concentration of Al. Expression of citrate synthase gene was up-regulated in the mature leaves, young as well as old roots simultaneously with increased concentration of Al in those parts; indicating the formation of Al-citrate complex. These results cooperatively specified that Al concentration at lower level promoted growth but turned out to be a stressor at elevated stages indicating the sensitivity of the cultivar (T-78) to Al.

Effect of metabolic regulators on aluminium uptake and toxicity in Matricaria chamomilla plants

Phenolic metabolism of Al-exposed Matricaria chamomilla plants was modulated with four regulators: 2-aminoindane-2-phosphonic acid (AIP), salicylic acid (SA), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and dithiothreitol (DTT). Physiological parameters (tissue water content, soluble proteins, reducing sugars, K+ content), root lignin content and free amino acids (increase in root proline and alanine) were the most affected in SA + Al variant, indicating negative impact of SA on Al-induced changes. SNP showed the least visible impact, suggesting protective effect of nitric oxide. Complex comparison between Al alone and combined treatments revealed that SA and DTT stimulated increase in shoot phenolic acids (mainly vanillic acid), sum of flavonols and soluble phenols but decreased the levels of coumarin-related compounds (Z- and E-2-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-4-methoxycinnamic acids), leading to elevation of shoot Al. Positive correlation between phenolic acids (mainly ferulic and chlorogenic acids), soluble phenols and total Al was found in the roots of SA and DTT variants. These events were not observed in AIP and SNP treatments. These data, to our knowledge for the first time, exactly confirm that phenolic metabolites may affect shoot Al uptake and this relation is rather positive in terms of simple phenols (and negative in terms of coumarin-related compounds).