An increase in ultraviolet(UV)B radiation on the earth's surface is a feature of current global climate changes.It hasbeen reported that alternative oxidase(AOX)may have a protective role against oxidative stress induced by environmentalstresses,such as UV-B.To better understand the characteristic tolerance of plants to UV-B radiation,the effects ofenhanced UV-B radiation on the activity and expression of AOX in red kidney bean(Phaseolus vulgaris)leaves wereinvestigated in the present study.The results show that the total respiration rate and AOX activity in red kidney bean leavesincreased significantly during treatment with enhanced UV-B.However,cytochrome oxidase(COX)activity did not changesignificantly.The H_2O_2 content was also markedly increased and reached a maximum of 4.45 mmol.L^(-1)·g^(-1)DW(dry weight)at 24 h of UV-B treatment,before dropping rapidly.Both alternative pathway content and alternative pathway activity wereincreased in the presence of exogenous H_2O_2.Immunoblotting analysis with anti-AOX monoclonal antibody revealed thatexpression of the AOX protein increased in red kidney bean leaves under enhanced UV-B radiation,reaching a peak at 72h.In addition,AOX expression in red kidney bean leaves was induced by exogenous H_2O_2.These data indicate that theincrease in AOX activity in red kidney bean leaves under enhanced UV-B radiation was mainly due to H_2O_2-induced AOXexpression.
Ming-Guang Zhao Ying-Gao Liu Li-Xin Zhang Lin Zheng Yu-Rong Bi
