title: Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in Pinus mugo needles growing at elevated stands in the mountains, and their photochemical efficiency of PSII.
abstract: Pinus mugo needles were sampled at different altitudes (1420, 1590 and 1920 m a.s.l.) to analyse levels of oxidative stress and changes in maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that almost all superoxide dismutase activity represented Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, and only 4-6% represents Mn superoxide dismutase. In extracts from plants sampled at 1590 and 1920 m a.s.l., lower activity of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase was found. Comparing these data with immunoblots, it can be concluded that the differences in superoxide dismutase activity was related to protein amount. In needles from higher altitudes, a decrease in catalase activity was detected, as opposed to the protein amount, which was higher in needles from the higher stands. Considering the decrease in catalase and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activities in needles collected at 1590 and 1920 m a.s.l., we suggest that higher levels of oxidative stress may induce changes in photochemical efficiency of PSII.
authors.affiliation: Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology, ul Niezapominajek 21, 30-239 Kraków, Poland. miszalski@ifr-pan.krakow.pl
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Miszalski
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libik
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Surówka
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Niewiadomska
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D028223:Pinus / Q000201:enzymology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000201:enzymology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase