title: The effect of arsenic contamination on amino acids metabolism in Spinacia oleracea L.
abstract: Changes of amino acid concentrations (proline, glutamate, asparagine, aspartate, alanine) and glutamate kinase activity (GKA) in plants under arsenic chronic stress reported here reveal their role in plant arsenic stress adaptation. Results of the pot experiment confirmed the toxic effect of arsenic at tested levels (As1=25 mg As kg(-1) soil, As2=50 mg As kg(-1) soil, As3=75 mg As kg(-1) soil) for spinach. Growing available arsenic contents in soil were associated with the strong inhibition of above-ground biomass and with the enhancement of As plant content. The changes of glutamate, asparagine, aspartate and proline levels in the plants showed strong linear dependences on arsenic concentration in plants (R2=0.60-0.90). Compared to the untreated control, concentrations of free proline and aspartate of As3 treatment were enhanced up to 381% and 162%, respectively. The significant changes of glutamate were observed on As2 and As3 treatments (increased level up to 188, i.e. 617%). Arsenic in plants was shown to be an inhibitor of glutamase kinase activity (R2=0.91). Inhibition of GKA resulted in an increase in the content of glutamate that is used in synthesis of phytochelatins in plant cells. Concentration of alanine did not have a confirmed linear dependence on arsenic concentration in plant (R2=0.05). The changes of its concentrations could be affected by changes of pH in plant cell or induction of alanine aminotransferase by hypoxia.
authors.affiliation: Isotope Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídenská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic. pavlik@biomed.cas.cz
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavlík
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pavlíková
authors.forename: Ludmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Staszková
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neuberg
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaliszová
authors.forename: Jirina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Száková
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tlustos
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D018533:Biomass; D017851:Phosphotransferases (Carboxyl Group Acceptor) / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D017851:Phosphotransferases (Carboxyl Group Acceptor); C020650:glutamate 5-kinase; D001151:Arsenic