Role of glutathione in adaptation and signalling during chilling and cold acclimation in plants

• DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-3054.2001.1130202.x
• Publication Date: 2003-03-12T18:31:16Z
• Authors: Gábor Kocsy; Gábor Galiba; Christian Brunold
• Keywords: Glutathione reductase

Glutathione is an important component of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle, which involved in regulation hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations plants. During chilling and cold acclimation, i.e. exposure to temperatures between 0 15 degrees C, H2O2 may accumulate. Excess electrons from photosynthetic respiratory electron transport chains can be used for reduction oxygen, thus producing superoxide radicals (O2.-); these are subsequently transformed via dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1). removal excess H2O2, reduced glutathione (GSH) converted its oxidised form (GSSG), GSH regenerated by activity NADPH-dependent reductase (GR; 1.6.4.2). At low non-freezing temperatures, high content GR were detected several plant species, indicating a possible contribution tolerance acclimation. Changes concentration GSH/GSSG ratio alter redox state cells activate special defence mechanisms through signalling chain. The finding that genes have antioxidant responsive elements or GSSG binding sites their regulatory regions supports idea regulating gene expression response temperature.