title: Polyamines and salt stress response and tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana flowers.
abstract: In the present study we analysed polyamine metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Columbia) flowers and stalks collected from plants germinated and grown under increasing salt-stress conditions (0-75 mM NaCl). The expression level of the different isoforms of polyamine biosynthetic enzymes was analysed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Spermidine synthase enzyme activity determined both in supernatant and pellet fractions, together with RT-PCR results, led us to hypothesize a different intracellular compartmentation of the isoforms of these enzymes. Free and conjugated polyamines (perchloric acid-soluble and -insoluble) were measured. Free spermidine was the most abundant polyamine and its levels, such as those of free spermine, increased with salt concentration, supporting the hypothesis for a specific role of those polyamines in the response and tolerance to salt stress of Arabidopsis thaliana flowers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Interdepartmental Centre for Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tassoni
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franceschetti
authors.forename: Nello
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bagni
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D035264:Flowers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D011700:Putrescine / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013095:Spermidine / Q000378:metabolism; D011436:Spermidine Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013096:Spermine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011073:Polyamines; D013096:Spermine; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011436:Spermidine Synthase; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine