Extremely rapid effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids and N-acetylglucosamine on free-radical metabolism in cultured potato plant cells

The effects of arachidonic and linoleic acids, separately and in co-operati on with N-acetyl-glucosamine oligomers, on Sodanum tuberosum plant suspensi on cell cultures were investigated in terms of the fluorescent oxygen-activ ated-species-sensitive dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. The inductor s used triggered extremely rapid (within 2-10 min) generation of H2O2 in th e cells; the majority was expressed in cultures treated with combined polyu nsaturated fatty acid and N-acetylglucosamine oligomers. The stimulation of free-radical generation may be related to defensive mechanisms modulating a plant-pathogenic-micro-organism interaction.