Involvement of phytochelatins in NiCl 2-triggered protection against induction of chromatid aberrations by TEM and MH in Vicia faba root tip meristems?

Abstract

Conditioning treatment of Vicia faba root tip meristem cells with NiCl 2 prior to challenge treatment with triethylenemelamine (TEM) or maleic hydrazide (MH) triggered protective functions against both these clastogens, i.e., resulted in a significantly reduced yield of metaphases with chromatid aberrations. Protection was prevented by pretreatment with buthionine sulfoximine (BSI), an inhibitor of the synthesis of plant phytochelatins (PCs), indicating that the NiCl 2-triggered PC synthesis may be involved in the protective functions induced by NiCl 2 conditioning treatment. BSI (instead of NiCl 2) conditioning treatment triggered protection against MH but not against TEM.