Mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction and DNA repair network are involved in aluminum-induced DNA damage and adaptive response in root cells of Allium cepa L

• Published in: Frontiers in plant science Vol. 5; p. 256
• Main Authors: Panda, Brahma B, Achary, V Mohan M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 05.06.2014
• Subjects: adaptive response; DNA Damage; DNA Repair; Genome protection; MAP kinase; Plant Science; Signal Transduction; genome protection; adaptive response; signal transduction; DNA damage; metabolic inhibitors; MAP kinase; DNA repair
• ISSN: 1664-462X; 1664-462X
• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00256

In the current study, we studied the role of signal transduction in aluminum (Al(3+))-induced DNA damage and adaptive response in root cells of Allium cepa L. The root cells in planta were treated with Al(3+) (800 μM) for 3 h without or with 2 h pre-treatment of inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and protein phosphatase. Also, root cells in planta were conditioned with Al(3+) (10 μM) for 2 h and then subjected to genotoxic challenge of ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS; 5 mM) for 3 h without or with the pre-treatment of the aforementioned inhibitors as well as the inhibitors of translation, transcription, DNA replication and repair. At the end of treatments, roots cells were assayed for cell death and/or DNA damage. The results revealed that Al(3+) (800 μM)-induced significant DNA damage and cell death. On the other hand, conditioning with low dose of Al(3+) induced adaptive response conferring protection of root cells from genotoxic stress caused by EMS-challenge. Pre-treatment of roots cells with the chosen inhibitors prior to Al(3+)-conditioning prevented or reduced the adaptive response to EMS genotoxicity. The results of this study suggested the involvement of MAPK and DNA repair network underlying Al-induced DNA damage and adaptive response to genotoxic stress in root cells of A. cepa.