title: Involvement of nitric oxide and auxin in signal transduction of copper-induced morphological responses in Arabidopsis seedlings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Plants are able to adapt to the environment dynamically through regulation of their growth and development. Excess copper (Cu(2+)), a toxic heavy metal, induces morphological alterations in plant organs; however, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. With this in mind, the multiple signalling functions of nitric oxide (NO) in plant cells and its possible regulatory role and relationship with auxin were examined during Cu(2+)-induced morphological responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endogenous auxin distribution was determined by microscopic observation of X-Gluc-stained DR5::GUS arabidopsis, and the levels of NO, superoxide and peroxynitrite were detected by fluorescence microscopy. As well as wild-type, NO-overproducer (nox1) and -deficient (nia1nia2 and nia1nia2noa1-2) arabidopsis plants were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cu(2+) at a concentration of 50 µm resulted in a large reduction in cotyledon area and hypocotyl and primary root lengths, accompanied by an increase in auxin levels. In cotyledons, a low Cu(2+) concentration promoted NO accumulation, which was arrested by nitric oxide synthase or nitrate reductase inhibitors. The 5-μm Cu(2+)-induced NO synthesis was not detectable in nia1nia2 or nia1nia2noa1-2 plants. In roots, Cu(2+) caused a decrease of the NO level which was not associated with superoxide and peroxynitrite formation. Inhibition of auxin transport resulted in an increase in NO levels, while exogenous application of an NO donor reduced DR5::GUS expression. The elongation processes of nox1 were not sensitive to Cu(2+), but NO-deficient plants showed diverse growth responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In plant organs, Cu(2+) excess results in severe morphological responses during which the endogenous hormonal balance and signal transduction are affected. Auxin and NO negatively regulate each other's level and NO intensifies the metal-induced cotyledon expansion, but mitigates elongation processes under Cu(2+) exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peto
authors.forename: Nóra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lehotai
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lozano-Juste
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tari
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Erdei
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kolbert
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000254:growth & development; D036226:Seedlings / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003300:Copper