The significance of methionine, histidine and tryptophan in plant responses and adaptation to cadmium stress

Abstract

Noccaea caerulescens (NC) and Arabidopsis halleri (AH) were studied to compare cadmiunm (Cd) accumulation and resistance. After 30, 60 and 90 days of plant cultivation in Cd contaminated soil (Cd1 = 30, Cd2 = 60 and Cd3 = 90 mg Cd/kg soil) amino acids were determined in plants. The comparison between both species showed that Cd stress resulted in different changes of amino acids levels playing a significant role in plant adaptation to Cd stress. Our analyses indicated higher accumulations of amino acids in the roots of NC compared to AH. Contrasting responses of plants to Cd contamination were confirmed in methionine metabolism. Methionine was determined only in roots of AH after 30 and 60 days of plant cultivation. Free methionine content decreased with increasing Cd contamination (Cd3 treatment – 40% decrease compared to the control treatment). Our results also showed that NC contains more than 10-fold higher content of histidine than AH. These observations indicated that this amino acid may be involved in Cd resistance and accumulation by reducing oxidative damage. Tryptophan plays a major role in the regulation of plant development and in defense responses. Its significant increase for NC treatments in contrast to AH treatments was determined.