title: H(2) enhances arabidopsis salt tolerance by manipulating ZAT10/12-mediated antioxidant defence and controlling sodium exclusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The metabolism of hydrogen gas (H(2)) in bacteria and algae has been extensively studied for the interesting of developing H(2)-based fuel. Recently, H(2) is recognized as a therapeutic antioxidant and activates several signalling pathways in clinical trials. However, underlying physiological roles and mechanisms of H(2) in plants as well as its signalling cascade remain unknown.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this report, histochemical, molecular, immunological and genetic approaches were applied to characterize the participation of H(2) in enhancing Arabidopsis salt tolerance. An increase of endogenous H(2) release was observed 6 hr after exposure to 150 mM NaCl. Arabidopsis pretreated with 50% H(2)-saturated liquid medium, mimicking the induction of endogenous H(2) release when subsequently exposed to NaCl, effectively decreased salinity-induced growth inhibition. Further results showed that H(2) pretreatment modulated genes/proteins of zinc-finger transcription factor ZAT10/12 and related antioxidant defence enzymes, thus significantly counteracting the NaCl-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and lipid peroxidation. Additionally, H(2) pretreatment maintained ion homeostasis by regulating the antiporters and H(+) pump responsible for Na(+) exclusion (in particular) and compartmentation. Genetic evidence suggested that SOS1 and cAPX1 might be the target genes of H(2) signalling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, our findings indicate that H(2) acts as a novel and cytoprotective regulator in coupling ZAT10/12-mediated antioxidant defence and maintenance of ion homeostasis in the improvement of Arabidopsis salt tolerance.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Co. Laboratory of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Yanjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Diwen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wenbiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D006859:Hydrogen; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012964:Sodium; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014157:Transcription Factors; C502133:ZAT12 protein, Arabidopsis; C516241:STZ protein, Arabidopsis