A. Chaoui et al., CADMIUM AND ZINC INDUCTION OF LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND EFFECTS ON ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME-ACTIVITIES IN BEAN (PHASEOLUS-VULGARIS L), PLANT SCI, 127(2), 1997, pp. 139-147
The relationship between Cd and Zn phytotoxicities and oxidative react
ions in bean plants was studied. Ten-day-old bean (Phaseolus vulgaris
L. cv. Morgan) plants treated for 96 h by 5 mu M Cd and 100 mu M Zn, s
eparately, showed the same reduction of growth. In response to each me
tal, lipid peroxidation was enhanced in all plant organs, and catalase
(CAT) activity was decreased in both roots and leaves, but not in ste
ms. However, Cd and Zn stimulated the activity of guaiacol-dependent p
eroxidase only in stems, where native electrophoresis revealed, at lea
st, two new anionic isozymes. The induction of one of these iso-guaiac
ol peroxidase (iso-GPX) was Zn-specific. The exposure to metals did no
t modify the activity of ascorbate-specific peroxidase either in roots
or in stems. In leaves, where the glutathione reductase (GR) activity
was assayed, increases of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione
reductase (GR) activities were recorded. These results suggest that so
me antioxidant enzymes can be activated, notably in upper plant parts,
in response to oxidative stress induced by Cd and Zn. (C) 1997 Elsevi
er Science Ireland Ltd.