Hydrogen sulfide promotes wheat seed germination and alleviates oxidative damage against copper stress.
With the enhancement of copper (Cu) stress, the germination percentage of wheat seeds decreased gradually. Pretreatment with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) donor alleviated the inhibitory effect of Cu stress in a dose-dependent manner; whereas little visible symptom was observed in germinating seeds and radicle tips cultured in NaHS solutions. It was verified that H(2)S or HS(-) rather than other sulfur-containing components derived from NaHS attribute to the potential role in promoting seed germination against Cu stress. Further studies showed that NaHS could promote amylase and esterase activities, reduce Cu-induced disturbance of plasma membrane integrity in the radicle tips, and sustain lower levels of malondialdehyde and H(2)O(2) in germinating seeds. Furthermore, NaHS pretreatment increased activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and decreased that of lipoxygenase, but showed no significant effect on ascorbate peroxidase. Alternatively, NaHS prevented uptake of Cu and promoted the accumulation of free amino acids in seeds exposed to Cu. In addition, a rapid accumulation of endogenous H(2)S in seeds was observed at the early stage of germination, and higher level of H(2)S in NaHS-pretreated seeds. These data indicated that H(2)S was involved in the mechanism of germinating seeds' responses to Cu stress.
Zhang
Hua
H
School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China. zhandzhy@yahoo.com.cn
Hu
Lan-Ying
LY
Hu
Kang-Di
KD
He
Yun-Dong
YD
Wang
Song-Hua
SH
Luo
Jian-Ping
JP
D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D060387:Ascorbate Peroxidases; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D004950:Esterases / Q000378:metabolism; D018525:Germination; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D008084:Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013440:Sulfides / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014908:Triticum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants; D013440:Sulfides; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D003300:Copper; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D010544:Peroxidases; D060387:Ascorbate Peroxidases; D002374:Catalase; D008084:Lipoxygenase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D004950:Esterases; D000681:Amylases; C025451:sodium bisulfide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide