title: Cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe-QDs) and enhanced ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation trigger antioxidant enzyme metabolism and programmed cell death in wheat seedlings.
abstract: Nanoparticles (NPs) are becoming increasingly widespread in the environment. Free cadmium ions released from commonly used NPs under ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation are potentially toxic to living organisms. With increasing levels of UV-B radiation at the Earth's surface due to the depletion of the ozone layer, the potential additive effect of NPs and UV-B radiation on plants is of concern. In this study, we investigated the synergistic effect of CdTe quantum dots (CdTe-QDs), a common form of NP, and UV-B radiation on wheat seedlings. Graded doses of CdTe-QDs and UV-B radiation were tested, either alone or in combination, based on physical characteristics of 5-day-old seedlings. Treatments of wheat seedlings with either CdTe-QDs (200 mg/L) or UV-B radiation (10 KJ/m(2)/d) induced the activation of wheat antioxidant enzymes. CdTe-QDs accumulation in plant root cells resulted in programmed cell death as detected by DNA laddering. CdTe-QDs and UV-B radiation inhibited root and shoot growth, respectively. Additive inhibitory effects were observed in the combined treatment group. This research described the effects of UV-B and CdTe-QDs on plant growth. Furthermore, the finding that CdTe-QDs accumulate during the life cycle of plants highlights the need for sustained assessments of these interactions.
authors.affiliation: Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environmental Stress Response (Shanxi Normal University) in Shanxi Province, Linfen, China; School of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Linfen, China.
authors.forename: Huize
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environmental Stress Response (Shanxi Normal University) in Shanxi Province, Linfen, China; School of Chemistry and Material Science, Shanxi Normal University, Linfen, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environmental Stress Response (Shanxi Normal University) in Shanxi Province, Linfen, China; School of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Linfen, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D036226:Seedlings / Q000201:enzymology*; D013691:Tellurium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014908:Triticum / Q000201:enzymology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D010940:Plant Proteins; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D013691:Tellurium; C028337:cadmium telluride