title: Partially acetylated chitosan oligo- and polymers induce an oxidative burst in suspension cultured cells of the gymnosperm Araucaria angustifolia.
abstract: Suspension-cultured cells were used to analyze the activation of defense responses in the conifer A. angustifolia , using as an elicitor purified chitosan polymers of different degrees of acetylation (DA 1-69%), chitin oligomers of different degrees of polymerization (DP 3-6), and chitosan oligomer of different DA (0-91%). Suspension cultured cells elicited with chitosan polymers reacted with a rapid and transient generation of H2O2, with chitosans of high DA (60 and 69%) being the most active ones. Chitosan oligomers of high DA (78 and 91%) induced substantial levels of H2O2, but fully acetylated chitin oligomers did not. When cultivated for 24-72 h in the presence of 1-10 microg mL(-1) chitosan (DA 69%), cell cultures did not show alterations in the levels of enzymes related to defense responses, suggesting that, in A. angustifolia , the induction of an oxidative burst is not directly coupled to the induction of other defense reactions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Muenster, D-48143 Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: André Luis Wendt
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Nour Eddine
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: El Gueddari
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trombotto
authors.forename: Bruno Maria
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Moerschbacher
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032462:Cycadopsida / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects*; D012639:Seeds / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D048271:Chitosan; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide