Abstract
BackgroundHydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gas signal molecule involved in regulating plants tolerance to heavy metals stress. In this study, we investigated the role of H2S in cadmium-(Cd-) induced cell death of root tips of cucumber seedlings.ResultsThe results showed that the application of 200 μM Cd caused cell death, increased the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), chromatin condensation, the release of Cytochrome c (Cyt c) from mitochondria and activated caspase-3-like protease. Pretreatment of seedlings with 100 μM sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS, a H2S donor) effectively alleviated the growth inhibition and reduced cell death of root tips caused by Cd stress. Additionally, NaHS + Cd treatment could decrease the ROS level and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity. Pretreatment with NaHS also inhibited the release of Cyt c from the mitochondria, the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), and the activity of caspase-3-like protease in the root tips of cucumber seedling under Cd stress.ConclusionH2S inhibited Cd-induced cell death in cucumber root tips by reducing ROS accumulation, activating the antioxidant system, inhibiting mitochondrial Cyt c release and reducing the opening of the MPTP. The results suggest that H2S is a negative regulator of Cd-induced cell death in the root tips of cucumber seedling.
Highlights
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gas signal molecule involved in regulating plants tolerance to heavy metals stress
Root length and fresh weight of cucumber seedlings under cd stress To investigate the effect of Cd on root length and fresh weight of cucumber seedlings, different concentrations of
The content of endogenous H2S in cucumber seedling roots decreased after 48 h compared with that of 24 h, while the endogenous H2S content under NaHS + Cd treatment was still 107.9, 28.8 and 78.5% higher than that of Con, Cd and NaHS treatments, respectively. These results indicated that the cucumber seedling roots absorbed exogenous H2S which contributed to the overall levels of endogenous H2S and helped to alleviate the Cd stress
Summary
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gas signal molecule involved in regulating plants tolerance to heavy metals stress. We investigated the role of H2S in cadmium-(Cd-) induced cell death of root tips of cucumber seedlings. Cadmium (Cd) pollution of the environment as a result of human activities has attracted worldwide attention [1]. Cd toxicity can cause ROS elevation in plants, oxidative damage, lipid peroxidation, cell death and growth inhibition [2,3,4]. The elongation of roots and synthesis of photosynthetic pigments in wheat was inhibited under Cd stress [6, 7]. Low concentrations of H2S have resulted in characteristics of a gas signal
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