Effects of selenium on activity of glutathione peroxidase and expression of selenium metabolism-related genes in Brassica

Abstract

Inorganic selenium (Se) is absorbed and enriched by plants and converted into a stable and nutritionally important organic form, which subsequently when consumed by humans or animals results in increased Se tissue levels. Brassica is one of the most potent Se-enriched plants. The aim of this study was to compare differences in Se enrichment between two predominant Brassica plants namely Brassica rapa Linn L. and Brassica tumida Tsenet Lee L. on Se metabolic parameters. Plants exposed to soil Se levels (0, 0.5, 1, 2.5 or 5 mg/kg) were examined on the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), Se levels and expression of Se metabolism related genes using soil pots. Data showed that activities of GSH-Px in leaf and root of the two Brassica species were significantly increased in the presence of Se at 2.5 mg/kg. Se concentrations of leaf, stem and root in B. tumida Tsenet Lee L. and B. rapa Linn L. rose from 0.31 to 21.84-fold (leaf), 1.15 to 15.16-fold (stem) and 2.11 to 15.26-fold (root) in the presence of metal in a concentration-dependent manner. The highest expression levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), ATP sulfurylase (APS), selenocysteine methyltransferase (SMT), serine acetyltransferase (SAT), cysteine desulfurase (CysD) and S-adenosyl-l-Met:l-Met S-methyltransferase (MMT) in leaf of B. rapa Linn L. were found at 1 mg/kg Se. The highest expression levels of ATP, APS, SMT, SAT, CysD and MMT in leaf of B. tumida Tsenet Lee L. were observed at 2.5 mg/kg Se. The Se concentrations in leaf, stem and root of B. rapa Linn L. were higher than in B. tumida Tsenet Lee L. under the same soil Se level conditions. At the same Se level, differences in the expression of Se-related genes were observed between these two Brassica species. Our observations may be used to optimize the utilization of Brassica as a nutritional source of Se by growing this plant under certain soil conditions.