Nitric oxide mitigates the phytotoxicity of imidazolium-based ionic liquids in Arabidopsis

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 283; p. 116845
• Main Authors: Ren, Haike, Shen, Shoujie, Tan, Liru, Wu, Jinwen, Wang, Dongsheng, Liu, Weizhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.09.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antioxidant activity; Arabidopsis - drug effects; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - growth & development; Chlorophyll - metabolism; Germination - drug effects; Green solvent; Imidazoles - toxicity; Ionic Liquids - toxicity; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; RNA-seq; Seedlings - drug effects; Seedlings - growth & development; Toxicity; ILs; NO; DEGs; RNA-seq; IILs; Toxicity; Antioxidant activity; BMC; Green solvent; DIB
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116845

Ionic liquids (ILs) have many beneficial properties that are extensively used in various fields. Despite their utility, the phytotoxic aspects of ILs are poorly known. This is especially true at the transcriptomic level and the role of nitric oxide (NO) in this process. Herein, we studied the mechanism by which endogenous NO reduces the toxicity of ILs in Arabidopsis. We examined the effects of two imidazolium-based ILs (IILs) on three Arabidopsis lines, each characterized by distinct endogenous NO levels, using a combination of physiological and transcriptomics methods. IILs impaired seed germination, seedling development, chlorophyll content, and redox homeostasis in Arabidopsis. Notably, 1,3-dibutyl imidazole bromide had greater toxicity than 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. Nox1, a mutant with an elevated NO level, had enhanced resistance, while nia1nia2, a mutant with a diminished NO level, had increased susceptibility compared to the wild type. RNA sequencing results suggested that NO mitigates IILs-induced phytotoxicity by modulating the metabolism of chlorophyll and secondary metabolites, and by bolstering the antioxidant defense system. These findings illustrate the complex molecular networks that respond to IIL stress and reveal the potential of endogenous NO as a mitigating factor in plant stress physiology. [Display omitted] •Ionic liquids (ILs) can impair the growth of Arabidopsis.•Nitric oxide (NO) enhances the tolerance of Arabidopsis upon ILs stress.•NO modulates the metabolism of chlorophyll and many secondary metabolites.•NO activates the antioxidant defense system upon ILs stress.