title: Biological and chemical investigation of Allium cepa L. response to selenium inorganic compounds.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological and chemical response of Allium cepa L. exposed to inorganic selenium compounds. Besides the investigation of the total content of selenium as well as its chemical speciation, the Allium test was used to evaluate the growth of onion roots and mitotic activity in the roots' meristem. The total content of selenium was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), coupled to ICP MS, was used for the selenium chemical speciation. Results indicated that A. cepa plants are able to biotransform inorganic selenium compounds into their organic derivatives, e.g., Se-methylselenocysteine from the Se(IV) inorganic precursor. Although the differences in the biotransformation of selenium are due mainly to the oxidation state of selenium, the experiment has also shown a fine effect of counter ions (H(+), Na(+), NH4 (+)) on the response of plants and on the specific metabolism of selenium.
authors.affiliation: College of Inter-Faculty Individual Studies in Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 93, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michalska-Kacymirow
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smolis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wierzbicka
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bulska
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008938:Mitosis; D019697:Onions / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D012643:Selenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D017279:Selenocysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D018036:Selenium Compounds; D017279:Selenocysteine; D012643:Selenium; D010100:Oxygen; C002979:selenomethylselenocysteine