title: Inhibitory effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on photosynthetic performance are not related to their aromaticity.
abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are very toxic and highly persistent environmental pollutants which accumulate in soil and affect growth of the plants adversely. This study aims to investigate inhibitory effects of 3 major PAH particularly on photosynthetic processes in Arabidopsis thaliana grown in soil treated with PAH. The 3 PAH chosen differ from each other in aromaticity (number of rings) comprising their structure (2 rings: naphthalene, 3 rings: anthracene and 4 rings: pyrene). Several growth parameters and Chlorophyll a fluorescence was monitored in PAH treated plants. BN-PAGe analysis was done in order to get information about change in the protein conformation. PAH treatment led to increased value of Fo which collaborated with increase in the amount of free LHC as seen through BN-Page analysis. Thus PAH were found to inhibit PS II photochemistry and caused distinct change in pigment composition. However the results led us to infer that 3-ring anthracence is more inhibitory as compared to 2-ring naphthalene and 4-ring pyrene. This indicates that aromaticity of PAH is unrelated to their response on photosynthetic processes.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Devi Ahilya University, Indore, MP, India. Electronic address: anjanajajoo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Anjana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jajoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Nageswara Rao
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Mekala
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Devi Ahilya University, Indore, MP, India.
authors.forename: Rupal Singh
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tomar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grieco
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tikkanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Eva-Mari
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Aro
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
keywords: Chlorophyll fluorescence; Photosynthesis; Photosystem II; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)