The changes of 2,4 Dinitrophenol substance applied to corn seeds in AOX and ATP synthase gene expression against chilling stress

Abstract

Plants get stressed when they are out of optimum living conditions. When the stress conditions exceed toleration level, they cause lots of sequential damages that are very difficult to repair for physical, biochemical and molecular mechanism of plants. The recent studies intended for strengthening resistance mechanism at gene level is also one of the popular research subjects. In this context, clearing up genes supplying resistance for plants (especially as food) which are exposed to instant temperature changes may provide convenience for other researchers to prevent loss of yield. In this study, changes of genes belonging to the enzyme named alternative oxidase (AOX) which is known to be active at low temperatures and located in mitochondrial ETS (electron transport system) by applying a substance named 2,4 dinitrophenol on corn seeds (Zea mays) were tried to be determined exogenously. It is known that AOX tranfers electrons to oxygen to prevent occuring reactive oxygen species with accelerating respiration at low temperatures. Besides, it is also known as that AOX causes available energy spread as heat since it prevents occurrence of necessary electrochemical gradient for ATP synthesis. It was seen that dinitrophenol (DNP) known as slimming medicine in literature reviews is a chemical substance which disrupts electrochemical gradient and inhibits ATP synthesis, spreads available energy as heat. This similarity between AOX and DNP has directed us to research working mechanism of DNP and AOX. Finally, it was seen that DNP increases resistance against cold by stimulating AOX gene expression and repressing ATP synthase expression.